Gang admits shop raids

Four Indian men admit stealing more than Dh50,000 in goods and cash in a series of thefts from a Dubai market.

DUBAI // Four Indian men have admitted stealing more than Dh50,000 in goods and cash in a series of thefts from shops in Al Rafaa market, police said. The robberies began on March 26 when the gang broke into several shops after they had closed and got away with jewellery, electronic goods, watches and cash. Col Khalil al Mansouri, the director of Dubai Police CID, said the owner of an electronics shop in Al Hosn Road reported that when he opened the store at 10am he found it had been broken into and 37 mobile phones and their accessories, among other goods, had been taken. Just 24 hours later, another shop in the area was raided and expensive textiles and cash were stolen. A series of similar robberies continued in the area, the last on March 31, when a jewellery shop was raided and Dh25,000 worth of jewellery and Dh10,000 in cash were stolen. In another store, the gang took large sums of money, watches and phone credit cards. A CID surveillance team identified the gang and the first member was arrested before midnight on March 31 behind the Astoria hotel. The man, identified as DK, led police to the rest of the gang members, identified as MJ, SR and BT. Police said stolen goods were found in the suspects' homes and that the gang admitted robbing 10 shops. The case was referred to the public prosecution.