DUBAI // Police have arrested a 20-strong gang suspected of stealing more than Dh300,000 worth of electrical cables in targeted raids on isolated construction sites.

“Members of the gang do not associate with each other outside their robberies. They just gather together to do the crime, get their cut, and each goes his own way,” said Dubai Police chief Maj Gen Khamis Al Muzeina.

“They have no connection other than they are all of the same Asian nationality.”

Gen Al Muzeina said the gang targeted isolated construction sites, some of which contained hundreds of thousands of dirhams worth of electrical cables.

“They execute the crime after tying up and assaulting the on-duty security guard, who is most often not qualified or older and weaker in stature and cannot protect himself or the site,” he said.

Dubai Police has launched a number of campaigns targeting owners of construction sites and companies to hire qualified security guards.

“People and companies responsible for these sites need to secure them by assigning more than one security guard at a time and making sure they have a strong build so that they can defend themselves and the site,” said Gen Al Muzeina. It was also important for sites to be well lit, he said.

Maj Gen Khalil Al Mansouri of Dubai Police CID said one of the sites the gang targeted belonged to a government entity.

“After we received the complaints, an investigative team was formed and dispatched to the scenes of the crime, in one of which the security guard was found with his legs and hands tied together,” he said. “The guard was beaten very badly and was transported to hospital.

“After the guard was treated, he told police during questioning that he did know who the thieves were but realised there were more than 15 of them, speaking the same Asian language.”

Gen Al Mansouri said police had arrested one gang member within two days of a robbery.

“Police arrested one of the men in possession of some of the stolen goods,” he said. “He admitted to the crime and led us to two others.

“After arresting them, we were able to capture a total of 10 men, all of whom admitted to the crime.

“While questioning them, we got another complaint of a similar robbery during which a security guard was also tied and assaulted. We were led to the second group of 10, all the same Asian nationality.”

The case has been transferred to public prosecution.

dmoukhallati@thenational.ae