Man accused of stealing 654 TV sets

Dubai: A sales executive has been accused of breaking into a warehouse and leaving it virtually empty after stealing 654 television sets worth around Dh877,000.

The 46-year-old Pakistani suspect, G.B., and two other suspects, who remain at large, were said to have loaded the 654 television sets, two dishwashers and a vacuum cleaner, on three pick-up trucks on February 7.

Prosecutors charged G.B. with theft and wrecking the warehouse’s locks.

The sales executive pleaded not guilty before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Tuesday.

The suspect is said to have rented another warehouse to hide the stolen goods in.

An Indian businessman testified to prosecutors that he was driving home on a Friday evening when he passed by the warehouse and noticed the lights were on.

“I called up the warehouse supervisor, who told me that he had switched off the lights before closing on Thursday…I peeped through a hole and realised that the warehouse was nearly empty… I realised then that the warehouse had been robbed and so I called up my partner and told him,” the businessman told prosecutors.

A police lieutenant testified to prosecutors that investigations led to G.B.’s arrest in Naif.

“During questioning, G.B. admitted that he went with one of the other suspects, named R., who called up a number of pick-up drivers to come to the warehouse. G.B. said R. opened the locks and three pick-ups were parked inside the warehouse, meanwhile six workers loaded the electronic items on the trucks at around 1am. The suspect alleged that they stored the items in a warehouse that he rented in Umm Al Ramool,” said the lieutenant.

Prosecution records cited the defendant admitting that R. asked to help him move the electronic goods from one warehouse in return for a fee.

Records said police recovered 405 television sets while the rest could not be found.

The trial continues.