Abu Dhabi: An alleged attempt to steal Dh100,000 in broad daylight was thwarted thanks to a few alert residents who responded to cries for help from a man, Gulf News has learnt.

The dramatic scene unfolded around 10.30am on Sunday two weeks ago along Airport Road (officially known as the Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street) close to the Dubai Islamic Bank and HSBC bank.

The man withdrew Dh100,000 from a bank and just as he was about to leave the area in his car a person allegedly came up to him and said the vehicle was on fire. As the man got out to check the boot, another person allegedly snatched a bag containing the money from inside the car and tried to run away.

‘Happened so fast'

People who heard the victim crying out for help gave chase and caught the alleged thief.

They notified the police and held the man for few minutes until he was handed over to the authorities, witnesses said.

"I heard the man crying out for help and yelling thief! thief! In no time, dozens of residents, including myself, started chasing the Asian-looking man", an eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Gulf News.

"He kept running until a Sudanese man was able to finally stop him."

According to the eyewitness, the alleged victim was a Pakistani national.

"It all happened so quick, he was in a state of shock. Even after the thief was stopped, he could not get himself to speak for some time," he said.

Shortly after the police was notified, CID officials as well as police patrol cars arrived at the scene, he added.

"The thief was taken in the police car."

The man who allegedly distracted the victim ran away in the opposite direction, and could not be caught, he added.

Confirming the incident, a court official said that the alleged thief, an Afghan national, was produced at the court by authorities and that legal proceedings were ongoing.

"It is high time people are aware of this plot," said the official.

"Those who withdraw huge sums must act more vigilantly," he added.

Banks also must warn their customers about the dangers of drawing huge sums, he noted.