Dubai: An elderly man is in a state of shock and had to be hospitalised after discovering from police investigations that a close family member allegedly masterminded a break-in at his residence to steal Dh2 million that he had kept in a safe in a Bur Dubai residence.

B.M., a 24-year-old family member of the man, hired two people to carry out the operation, said Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Director of the Criminal Investigations General Department of Dubai Police.

The incident happened on March 24. The man found out about the burglary when he returned home.

He was shocked to see his housemaid tied up and his safe wide open, with the Dh2 million missing.

The Asian housemaid later identified the two suspects when they were arrested by the Dubai Police, said Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Humaid Al Merri, Director of the Criminal investigation division of Dubai Police.

In the course of their investigations, the police detected a vital clue to the robbery.

The mastermind, B.M. knew that his elderly relative had sold a property for Dh2 million and had kept the money in the safe, said Lt Col Al Merri.

Initially when the police questioned him, he said he was in Abu Dhabi and was paying fines when the crime took place, Lt Col Al Merri said.

Based on the descriptions of the suspects provided by the housemaid and a store employee in the neighbourhood, the police identified the first Gulf national suspect, H.J. who has a previous criminal record.

The suspect was arrested on the evening of March 25, and confessed to the police of the involvement of B.M. The two hired robbers each took Dh400,000.

On the same day, B.M. was arrested and he confessed to his crime.

"When the elderly man found out about the involvement of his family member he fell sick," said Lt Col Al Merri.

The second suspect, Y.A, was arrested in close collaboration with the Omani authorities "who swiftly responded to our request and assisted in arresting the suspect who was on his way to Yemen," he said.

"I urge the public not to leave huge sums of money in their safes, home or offices. These amounts should be deposited in the bank," said Lt Col Al Merri.