Pair on trial for Dubai villa break-in spree

The Armenian pair forced their way into upmarket homes and took entire safes containing valuables with them.

DUBAI // Two men stole cash and goods worth Dh60,000 in raids on villas in Dubai, a court heard.

The Armenian pair forced their way into upmarket homes and took safes full of valuables.

Last week, the men, aged 30 and 36, appeared in court and were charged with breaking into a villa in Falcon City and allegedly stealing jewellery worth Dh60,000 in January 2013.

Yesterday, prosecutors also set out a series of charges, including robbery, for additional cases.

In the first, which dates to December 2012, the men allegedly broke into a villa in Arabian Ranches and stole two safes containing Dh150,000 worth of jewellery.

The 32-year-old Indian owner said: “I went to my bedroom, and saw the safes missing. One contained my wife’s jewellery, the other one contained passports and documents.”

In another case, the same two men broke into a flat in Dubai Sport City, in February 2014. They allegedly stole jewellery worth Dh60,000 and Dh1,500 in cash.

“Six months after we reported the theft, the police called us in to identify our jewellery. Me and wife found our stolen items from the jewellery they showed us, and gave it back to us,” said the Indian salesman.

A police officer said the men were traced to a hotel in Abu Dhabi. He said they admitted to spending the cash and smuggling jewellery out of the UAE.

Last week, the 30-year-old defendant denied robbery charges. But he did not appear at Dubai Criminal Court yesterday to face the other charges. The second defendant has been charged in his absence after fleeing the country.

The next hearing is on April 16.