When Jake went to inspect the damage to his Tel Aviv shop from a June 16 Iranian missile strike just a few hours after the impact, he discovered that he had been robbed.
Jake, founder and CEO of bike tour and rental company Yalla Bikes, was watching the news from his shelter and saw that his store had been damaged by the impact. He rode nearly 50 kilometers on his bike to get to the shop from the place he had been staying.
He soon discovered that the impact had damaged his store’s rolling metal door, meaning someone was able to squeeze in and steal a few thousand shekels worth of equipment and cash.
“It was really sad and really disappointing,” he said.
“It’s not a huge amount of money, [and it’s not] going to bankrupt me or completely ruin the business, so it wasn’t so sad for the business or myself,” he explained. “It was more sad that someone would come and do that at the worst possible time.”
Other people in the building where his shop is were also robbed, he said, saying that many lost personal items and jewelry.
Multiple break-ins following missile strikes
There were a number of instances of robbery and break-ins in Israel following missile impacts or during sirens during Israel’s conflict with Iran, as some sought to take advantage of empty homes or destroyed buildings that allowed easy access.
“I know a girl whose jewelry was emptied out of her jewelry box in her apartment,” Jake said.
“It was depressing to know that people would come and do that at the worst time,” he said, adding that it was “disgusting” that some took advantage of “the worst moment in someone’s life.”
At the same time, “As awful as the situation was and as disappointing and sad as it was,” Jake has seen his community come together to support each other.
“It’s been really beautiful to see all the community support – so many people reaching out, volunteer groups coming to help clean and organize,” he said.
“I had so many people saying, ‘Where can we donate?’ It felt uncomfortable asking people for money.”
Jake decided to hold a fundraiser not only to fund repairs for Yalla Bikes but also for others in his area.
“I decided I would [create] a fundraiser because I have a platform where people have been reaching out,” he said.
The campaign has raised $19,346 in just a few days.
“I’ve had probably thousands of people reaching out online and in person and through phone and text just to check in on us and to see what we need, and volunteers coming by,” he said.
“It’s just been really beautiful to see, at the worst time, how the community comes together to have each other’s backs.”
You can donate to Jake’s fundraiser here.