Man accused of breaking into 13 different cars

DUBAI // A man broke into 13 different cars across the city in one night, stealing car stereos and other possessions, a court heard yesterday.

EM, 45, who was visiting from Nigeria, was charged with 13 counts each of theft and property damage. EM denied the charges at the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance before Judge El Saeed Bargouth.

According to prosecutors, EM broke into the vehicles on the evening of March 24, 2010, at locations ranging from the Hor al Anz district in Deira all the way to the Eid prayer grounds in Jafiliya.

Records show that he and an accomplice, who is not in custody, either jimmied the car locks or broke the quarter-light windows to open the doors.

Among the items stolen were laptops, sunglasses, car stereos and GPS systems.

Records show that nothing was stolen in six of the break-ins.

A police officer told prosecutors that some of the items were found in EM's home when he was arrested.

"The suspect confessed to stealing the items we recovered from his home. We found numerous valuables that matched the theft reports that were filed," he said.

Prosecutors also provided forensic evidence confirming that EM's fingerprints were on the vehicles that were robbed. The court will issue a verdict on January 18.