A man in his forties suspected of antiquities robbery was apprehended this weekend by the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery at the declared antiquities site of Tel Hannaton, next to HaMovil Junction in the north.

There are remains at Tel Hannaton that date from the Early Canaanite period until the Crusader period. The tell was a strategic location situated along the road that led from the Fertile Crescent to Akko.

The suspect, who is known to the unit, was caught in the act of using a metal detector to search the ground for ancient coins. A search of his possessions revealed a coin that he discovered at the site shortly beforehand.
He was detained in the field by an inspector of the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery of the Israel Antiquities Authority and taken for questioning by the police at which time he confessed to committing the offenses he is accused of. He was subsequently released on bail.

The investigation material was turned over to the State Attorney for preparation of a charge sheet against the suspect.