Dubai // A thief who has been deported from the UAE six times is facing trial yet again. BH, an Afghan in his thirties, was sent home in 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2007 and has spent a total of seven years in jail, according to police records. Following his latest arrest, in Dubai, he has been charged with 18 counts of stealing from cars. "The suspect has showed unexplainable persistence in re-entering the country to carry out his criminal acts," said Lt Col Ahmed al Merri, the head of Dubai Police's criminal investigation division.
"He comes by sea from Iran to neighbouring countries and then infiltrates the UAE." It is not clear when BH arrived this time. He was arrested on October 10 in connection with thefts in Al Qusais, Muraqabbat, Al Rifa'a and Naif. The search for BH began after a woman reported that two handbags had been stolen from her car. "Our investigation suggested that all the car thefts in these areas had the same method," said Lt Col al Merri. Officers noticed that it was a method similar to that used by BH, he said.
"Because we never exclude criminals who have been deported from our investigation, we were able to draw the link between the thefts and this criminal, and our sources confirmed our suspicion of him being in the country," said Lt Col al Merri. The case has been referred to public prosecutors. wissa@thenational.ae
