Dubai: Three men have been jailed for six months each for breaking into a school and stealing valuables and Dh150,000 in cash from a safe.
The trio, two Yemenis and an Egyptian, jumped over the fence of the school and stole from the safe Dh150,000 and Dh100,000 worth of jewellery that the school’s Pakistani accountant had kept at his workplace thinking it was safer there.
The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the Yemenis, B.S. and A.M., and the Egyptian accomplice, J.E., of breaking-in and stealing.
According to Thursday’s ruling, the trio will be deported following the completion of their punishments.
The accountant had obtained permission from the management to keep his jewellery at the school’s safe. The defendants forced their way into the premises and stole the cash and jewellery in May 2015.
The three defendants had pleaded not guilty.
Records said the accused and a fourth suspect, who remains at large, broke into the school’s premises and stole the cash and jewellery after they broke two safes.
The accountant testified that his co-worker phoned him in the morning while driving to work and informed him that the school had been burgled.
“The thieves had broken the door of the accounting room and stolen the cash and my jewellery. Thinking it was safer than home, I had kept in the safe 35 pieces of jewellery comprising rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings,” he said.
A policeman said they identified the defendants from the modus operandi of the theft.
“The trio were apprehended for being involved in a similar heist. During questioning, the defendants said they had rented a car for the heists. They alleged that at 1am, they parked behind the school in Al Muhaisnah. Two of them stayed outside to keep watch while the other two forced their way into the school. They claimed that they shared the gains. Part of the stolen jewellery was recovered from inside a pillow case at the Yemenis’ residence in Ajman,” said the policeman.
Thursday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
