ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Saturday, July 6th 2013 [ME NewsWire]
In two separate cases, the Abu Dhabi police managed to arrest two gangs (Eastern European and Asian), engaged in daytime robberies of luxury residential apartments and houses; while the inhabitants are at work, or running errands.
Moreover, the ADP managed to recover all the stolen items, including jewelry, precious stones and watches, hidden in two different locations; in a hotel apartment in Dubai, and a farmhouse located in Al Khatam Region in Abu Dhabi. The stolen goods were valued at more than AED 1 million.
Commenting on the first incident, Brigadier Maktoum Al Sharifi, Director of the Capital Police Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police GHQ indicated that the east European gang (whose members are on a Visitor Visa) carried out their robberies as per a criminal method to steal jewelry and gold ornaments from various houses in Abu Dhabi. The robberies were spaced in time and targeted different neighborhoods respectively so as not to draw attention.
“The 7-member gang, (6 of Georgian nationalities and 1 Filipino), carried out their robberies in Abu Dhabi upon breaking and entering through doors and windows of the targeted houses, before heading to their hideout to split the loot,” added Brigadier Al Sharifi.
Moreover, he explained that the gang members knock on the targeted apartment’s door pretending to maintenance workers. Once in, they examine the apartment’s contents and assess the financial status of the residents. Shortly after staking out the house, they take advantage of the residents’ absence, to break in and steal the light-weight and valuable gold jewelry.
He continued: “Based on the available information, a team from Al Shaabiah Police Station of the Capital police Directorate established a plan, which included monitoring potential sites that may be targeted by the gang members. During the search and investigation operation, the police officers suspected a group of people; placed them under surveillance; and finally managed to arrest them in flagrante delicto, in a successful one-of-a-kind operation.”
Furthermore, Al Sharifi revealed that upon raiding the gang’s hideout, it turned out that they have a miniature smelter used to molten gold jewelry into gold bars (bullions); to be easily marketed or smuggled outside the country. He pointed out that the police recovered most of the gold jewelry.
During the preliminary investigations, the 7 Eastern European gang members confessed that they took part in identifying potential luxury residential apartments and houses to be stolen. They also confessed to the robberies, noting that they distributed the roles among them: to find the apartments, mark them, make sure the residents are away, then breaking and entering to steal the valuables.
Commenting on the second incident, Brigadier Al Sharifi stated that the modus operandi is quite similar to the first incident. Two Pakistanis (a driver and a violator of the Residency law) were arrested for forming a gang, engaged in stealing luxury homes while the residents are away.
“Once arrested, the main suspect (the driver) unveiled the stolen goods stash hidden by his accomplice in suitcases in a farm located in Al Khatam Region in Abu Dhabi. The loot included precious watches, jewelry, precious stones and electronic devices”, he said.
The Asian gang’s confession validated the investigations, which showed that the gang members worked jointly. One of them would carry out the robberies, while the other hides the stolen goods.
Director of the Capital Police Directorate called on home owners to secure their apartments during their absence, and avoid leaving any open windows even on the top floors. He also warned them against leaving any valuables or money in the open, and to deposit at their banks, stressing the need to inform the police agencies and neighbors of their absence.
Concluding, he underscored the need to avoid letting strangers into their apartments and houses under false pretexts, and to check their employment documents and ID or contact the party who sent them. He also reminded community members of the importance of quickly reporting any suspicious activity or individual without delay, to allow competent authorities to take the necessary legal action.
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Photo Captions:
Photo 1: Brigadier Maktoum Al Sharifi
Photo2: Three members of the Georgian gang with some of the stolen gold items before being molten
Photo 3: The stolen items found hidden in a farm at Al Khatam Region
Photo 4: The stolen items found hidden in a farm at Al Khatam Region
Photo 5: The stolen items found hidden in a farm at Al Khatam Region
The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.
Contacts
The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department
Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media
Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-908-5946
E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com
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