Two female teens charged with attempted robbery

Suspects from Eilat used a knife to threaten 61-year-old taxi driver, who escaped unharmed

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Illustrative: Line of taxis waiting for passengers (Kobi Gideon/Flash90)
Illustrative: Line of taxis waiting for passengers (Kobi Gideon/Flash90)

Two 17-year-old girls from Eilat were charged with attempted robbery on Friday. The Southern District Attorney’s Office submitted an indictment to the Juvenile Court in Beersheba against the minors, accusing the girls of attempting to rob a 61-year-old female cab driver.

On August 3, the suspects allegedly met at one of their homes in the southern resort town  of Eilat order to plan their crime. They decided to target a female taxi driver, thinking they would be less likely to encounter resistance. They prepared a piece of cloth with which to blindfold the victim, and left their cellphones at home to make it harder for them to be tracked.

The two girls also brought along a knife.

Claiming they were afraid to travel with a male driver, the suspects asked a passerby to order them a cab with a female driver.

Once they were picked up, the girls directed the driver to an alleyway. One of the suspects pressed the knife against the driver’s neck and demanded she turn over her wallet and phone. The taxi crashed into a street sign, giving the driver an opportunity to escape.

The two girls then fled the scene and disposed of the knife.

The suspects were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, attempted robbery, illegal possession of a knife, and obstruction of justice. The state attorney’s office asked that the suspects remain in custody until legal proceedings have concluded.

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