6/1/2026
The following statement was issued by the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division:
As part of the ongoing efforts to combat pickpocketing and theft by specialized units of the Internal Security Forces across Lebanon, the Information Division received information regarding unidentified individuals stealing motorcycles and using them to commit pickpocketing in several areas of Mount Lebanon Governorate. The most recent incident occurred on November 22, 2025, when two unidentified individuals on a motorcycle stole a woman’s purse from inside her car in the town of Damour. The purse contained cash, a gold chain, documents, and personal belongings. The perpetrators then fled to an unknown location. Following this incident, the Division’s patrols initiated field and investigative procedures to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. As a result of the investigation, the division’s personnel were able to identify the house in Baalshmayeh, Aley, that the perpetrators of the robbery had gone to. Consequently, the identities of all members of the robbery gang were determined, including the homeowner, the mastermind, named: – F.F. (born in 1992, Lebanese), a repeat offender with a history of theft. Orders were given to monitor and arrest him as quickly as possible, in coordination with the judiciary. On December 16, 2025, after careful surveillance, a division patrol apprehended him in Soufar while he was riding a black N Max motorcycle, which was found to have been stolen from Nabatieh on October 21, 2025. The motorcycle was recovered. He confessed to the charges against him, specifically forming a motorcycle theft gang. The gang members would bring the stolen motorcycles to an abandoned building near his residence, from where they would be transported north to be sold to someone who would then smuggle them into Syria. He stated that two members of his gang were responsible for the theft of the bag from inside the car in Damour, in addition to carrying out several pickpocketing incidents in the areas of Nahr al-Mawt, Antelias, and Souk al-Gharb. He also confessed that they had previously stolen a white van from Zouk Mosbeh to use in transporting stolen motorcycles, but due to a malfunction while driving it, they were forced to burn it on the highway in the same area. A search of his home and the abandoned building yielded tools and clothing used in motorcycle thefts and pickpocketing, motorcycle parts, helmets, and identification papers belonging to individuals whose motorcycles had been stolen. The necessary legal action was taken against him, and he was handed over, along with the seized items, to the relevant authority, based on the instructions of the competent judiciary.
Work is still underway to arrest the remaining members of the gang.
Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division, the following statement: As part of the daily follow-up carried out by the Internal Security Forces to combat theft operations across various Lebanese regions and pursue those involved, the Information Division obtained information about an individual engaged in carrying out thefts by breaking and entering homes and commercial shops in Mount Lebanon. After each operation, he would flee to Syria and then return to resume his criminal activities. Accordingly, the competent units within the Division initiated field and investigative measures to identify and arrest him. As a result of inquiries and investigations, the Division was able to identify him as: J. F. (born in 1977, Lebanese) He is subject to three judicial warrants for theft. It was also revealed, following the circulation of a video on social media showing a minor throwing himself from a balcony after being subjected to an attempted assault, that the house belonged to the aforementioned suspect, who had fled to Syria to avoid arrest. After information was received that he had returned to Lebanon and was staying at a hotel in the Hamra area, one of the branch’s patrols spotted him driving a silver Kia Picanto. He was arrested, and the vehicle was seized. A minor, N. D. A. (born in 2012, Syrian), was arrested with him. Upon searching the suspect and the vehicle, three mobile phones and a sum of money were seized. During interrogation, he confessed to the charges against him, stating that, in collaboration with others (some of whom had previously been arrested by the branch), he had carried out numerous thefts by breaking and entering homes and commercial shops in the areas of Mansourieh, Khaldeh, Jbeil, Aaramoun, and Fayadiyeh. The most recent was the theft of an electrical appliances store in Jbeil on 13/01/2026. After each operation, they would flee to Syria to avoid arrest. Regarding the minor arrested with him, the latter stated in the presence of a juvenile representative that he had known J. F. for about a year, and that the latter had previously assaulted him after inviting him to his home in the Ain El Remmaneh area. The minor also admitted that he had been forced to accompany him again to carry out acts against his will in exchange for money, and that he was currently residing with him in the house. The necessary legal measures were taken against the suspect, who was detained and referred, along with the seized items, to the competent authority based on the instructions of the judiciary. Efforts are ongoing to arrest other individuals involved.
21/2/2026
Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division, the following statement: As part of the daily follow-up carried out by the Internal Security Forces to combat theft operations across various Lebanese regions—particularly thefts from inside vehicles parked along roads—information was obtained by the Information Branch regarding an unidentified individual riding a motorcycle who, on 02/02/2026, stole a military pistol from inside a car parked in a public parking lot in the Jall El Dib area. Following this, the competent units initiated field and investigative procedures to identify and arrest the perpetrator. As a result of investigations and inquiries, and within a short period of time, his identity was determined. He is an employee at a security company, identified as: M. Sh. (born in 2001, Lebanese) Through a precise surveillance and monitoring operation, and in less than one hour, a patrol from the branch succeeded in arresting him in the Jall El Dib area. Upon searching him, the stolen pistol was seized along with a magazine containing 14 rounds, a Turkish-made pistol with an empty magazine, and a mobile phone. During interrogation, he confessed to committing the theft of the pistol from inside the vehicle. The necessary legal measures were taken against him, and he was referred, along with the seized items, to the competent authority based on the instructions of the competent judiciary.
20/2/2026
Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division, the following statement: At approximately 4:00 PM on 19/02/2026, an unidentified person left a black bag containing two laptops and a mobile phone on the sidewalk in front of a public parking lot in the Clemenceau area. Therefore, and based on the instructions of the competent judiciary, this General Directorate requests that the owner of the bag proceed to collect it from the Mina El Hosn Police Station of the Beirut Police Unit, located at the Barbar El Khazen Barracks – Verdun, or contact the number 01-789086 in preparation for the necessary procedures.
20/2/2026
Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division, the following statement: On 18/02/2026, the body of an unidentified man was found in the Old Saida Road – Hadath area. It was transported by a vehicle belonging to the Lebanese Red Cross to Saint Therese Hospital, and no one has come forward to inquire about him. Description of the body: A man in his fifties, approximately 170 cm tall, slim build, fair-skinned, black hair, full beard. He was wearing a black coat and gray jeans. Therefore, and based on the instructions of the competent judiciary, the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces requests that his relatives, or anyone who has information about him, contact the Hadath Police Station of the Regional Gendarmerie Unit at 05-466553 in order to take the necessary legal measures prior to receiving the body.
20/2/2026