DUBAI // A gang of burglars previously convicted of stealing Dh700,000 worth of jewellery and valuables from a Nad Al Hamar home have been found guilty of a second raid in which they stole about Dh1 million in diamonds and cash from a home in Jumeirah.
Two Sudanese and five Colombian men, aged between 23 and 39, were found guilty of forming a gang, trespassing, burglary and causing damage. They were all sentenced to three years in jail each to be followed by deportation.
They broke into the second villa on June 28 last year and stole diamonds, cash and other valuables worth more than Dh1 million from a Pakistani couple, Dubai Criminal Court heard.
The Sudanese defendants met one of the Colombians on Facebook a year before the crimes and agreed to take part in the burglaries by providing an apartment and a get-away car.
Before the raid, the Sudanese men took the Colombians to Ajman’s China Mall where they bought tools to use in the burglaries.
One Colombian acted as a look out while his compatriots climbed over the villa’s wall, smashed a windows and entered the house.
The Colombians then fled to Oman. They crossed the border illegally but were arrested a month later in a police operation involving Omani authorities.
The 43-year-old owner of the Jumeirah villa said she returned home to find her home in a mess with many valuables missing, including cash in different currencies. She informed her daughter-in-law then called police.
In the first case in court last November, the five Colombians were found guilty of breaking into a house in Nad Al Hamar and stealing Dh450,000 worth of jewellery and watches worth Dh250,000, US$18,000 in cash as well as a device that controls surveillance cameras.
They were sentenced to five years in jail each. The Sudanese men were convicted of aiding and abetting and were sentenced to three years in jail each.
All seven defendants denied charges against them. They will be deported after serving their jail terms.
salamir@thenational.ae