Palestinian Authority police chose to destroy hundreds of stolen Israeli vehicles last week, rather than return them to their owners, after discovering the cars in the town of Jama'een.

The town, located south of the PA-controlled Samaria city of Shechem, has apparently served as the headquarters of a major car theft ring, where nearly 500 stolen Israeli vehicles were found last week.

PA police arrested three fugitives at the site, in addition to dismantling a 155-mm explosive shell, according to a report published Saturday by the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency. No one was injured and the thieves did not attempt to damage the security forces' vehicles or equipment.

At least 941 stolen Israeli vehicles have been impounded – and destroyed – by PA police forces since January 1, 2010. None have been returned to their owners in Israel.

The issue of stolen vehicles making their way to the Palestinian Authority territories from pre-1967 Israel is not a new one, with reports of such incidents dating back to 2006 and beyond.

Israel Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told Israel National News on Sunday that a great many staff hours have been dedicated to preventing PA-Arab car thefts. He added there has been increased coordination between Israel Police and PA police authorities in recent months, with an effort towards clamping down on the phenomenon.