A Call for Pizza Unveils a Cry for Help

Sgt. Yahav Nakash (22) serves as a dispatcher for the Northern District police. Earlier this month, she answered a call from a Golan Heights resident complaining her pizza hadn’t arrived. Although it seemed unusual, Nakash recalled an American story with a similar scenario and instantly grasped that the caller was in distress. Using special locator equipment, Nakash pinpointed the call’s origin and dispatched a patrol car. Officers arriving at the scene arrested the caller’s partner on suspicion of assaulting her.

Nakash's quick-thinking story spread across social media, earning thousands of shares and heartwarming comments. This week, she shared insights in "LaIsha" magazine about the moment she recognized the cry for help. "She had called earlier and hung up, which already alerted me," Nakash recounted. "I called her back and she spoke in a restrained, trembling voice, clearly anxious. I asked three times if everything was okay, and she said it was, but her voice betrayed her troubles. When she mentioned the undelivered pizza, it was a very brief call, barely 40 seconds, yet something felt off to me."

Nakash understood the pizza was a distress code due to a similar case trending online: "There was a viral post of a similar incident in the U.S., highlighted on a day to raise awareness about combating violence against women. It seems she remembered the post, hoping I would make the connection."

When asked why she decided to dispatch a patrol to the caller’s home, Nakash said, "Our training included listening closely to unlikely calls like these. We were reminded to open our ears to hear what’s said between the lines. Many prank calls come to the 100 hotline, but in life-and-death situations, if there’s doubt, there’s no doubt. At the slightest suspicion the woman was in distress, I was determined to send a patrol, just in case. I wished it had been a hoax."

Nakash detailed a tense hour spent trying to locate the caller, who used a prepaid phone. "Investigative actions were necessary to identify her. It was the most nerve-wracking hour of my life; I could barely attend other calls. Once she hung up, I knew I couldn’t call back, as the assailant might spot the return call and worsen her situation. I let my commander listen to the call, we exchanged glances, words weren’t needed; we both understood."

When officers reached the apartment, they found a crying, frightened woman. Her partner attempted to also assault them and was arrested for suspected assault. "I felt enormous relief and excitement. I didn’t go home until I knew she was safe. Once I heard of the arrest and her safety, I relaxed and felt a bit of self-pride. If I had misunderstood her or thought she was a mere nuisance, things could have gone terribly wrong. That thought stayed with me for days after."

Since the incident, Nakash hasn’t spoken with the distressed caller. "If I could, I’d tell her, ‘Bravo for calling and conveying distress so subtly. I salute your resourcefulness and bravery.’"