ABU DHABI // Bus and lorry drivers in Mussaffah have been targeted by thieves who are stealing parts and fuel from their vehicles.
According to the drivers, robbers target vehicles which are parked in poorly-lit or deserted areas to steal batteries, spare tyres and diesel.
“My bus’s spare tyre and battery were stolen,” said Rahmatullah, from Afghanistan. “These incidents happen during the night and we don’t find anybody. If we catch them, we report them to the police.
“Now I lock the battery compartment and diesel box separately.”
Thieves sell their plunder at a scrap market in Mussaffah, where they can fetch up to Dh500 for a tyre, said Mr Rahmatullah, who has driven in Abu Dhabi for the past seven years.
Rashid Ashraf, also from Afghanistan, said that thieves would use pumps to empty tanks of diesel.
“This happens very often in Mussaffah. We park our bus and in the morning we find that the vehicle doesn’t start because the diesel was stolen.
“Several times, my bus’s diesel, battery and spare tyre were take by the night robbers. They even broke the door lock and stole the diesel card [Rahal e-diesel purchase card],” Mr Ashraf said.
“After these incidents, I put a lock on the diesel and battery compartments.”
Abu Dhabi Police said they have arrested eight people on suspicion of breaking into cars in Abu Dhabi but did not address the thefts at Mussaffah.
Items recovered included cash, electronics, phones and wallets that contained bank cards. The suspects were referred to authorities for legal action.
Abdul Ghafour, from India, said: “My spare tyre was stolen a month back and such cases are often happening in Mussaffah and this is a big problem.”
In Mussaffah, there are no designated parking spaces for buses and lorries and those areas are not properly lit.
Mr Ghafour, who drives a 32-seat bus, said he did not know who was responsible.
“I can’t exactly say until we catch them,” he said.
Saeed Afreedi, from Pakistan, who drives a mini bus, agreed there was a problem, but it had never happened to him as he parked at the Workers Village in Mussaffah, which is well lit.
Mr Afreedi, whose friends’ vehicles were robbed, said: “They generally park beside roads and in deserted localities which make these buses more vulnerable.”
Col Ahmed Al Muhairi, acting director of the Capital Police Directorate, called upon drivers to make sure their vehicles were locked and parked in secure lots.
anwar@thenational.ae
