Sharjah: The criminal investigation department (CID) at the Sharjah Police has arrested three Afghan men on charges of looting customers after they withdrew money from banks, the police said.
The gang members would monitor customers who withdrew money from banks and rob them immediately after.
An official at Sharjah Police told Gulf News that police had received several complaints from bank customers who had been robbed. They had also received a tip-off about suspicious people lingering around banks.
A CID team monitored locations likely to be targeted by the suspects, and soon identified three men loitering in one particular area.
The gang members were arrested when they targeted a customer. They had failed to notice that the police were watching their movements.
One of the suspects attempted to distract a bank customer by citing a leak in his car, after having poured oil under the vehicle. The second suspect also attracted the victim’s attention while the third suspect tried to rob his cash and flee the scene.
The trio were arrested red-handed. They confessed their crimes to the police team. They had arrived in the UAE on a visit visa and often carried out such crimes during occasions like Eid or other holidays when markets and roads are crowded.
The case has been referred to the Sharjah Public Prosecution.
Police have warned the public to be vigilant of their surroundings and report any suspicious people around banks.
