Police arrest four-man gang behind robberies

Dubai: Police have arrested a gang of four who broke into a number of residences using their professional experience which had been gained in their business of breaking door locks for clients.

The gang, which consisted of Georgian and Turkish suspects, stole valuable jewellery, gold, expensive watches and laptops.

The gang's criminal operation was based on monitoring the movements of residents.

After the residents left for work or elsewhere, the gang approached their apartments and broke the locks within seconds without triggering alarm.

They would then ransack the apartments, searching for valuables such as jewellery, money, gold, watches and mobile phones and anything they could carry without attracting attention.

They stand accused of carrying out about 18 burglaries using the same method which was done with high professionalism, police said.

Plot unravels

The robberies took place at Al Qusais, Al Muraqqabat and Al Rifa'a.

On December 12, the gang committed their last robbery. Al Muraqqabat Police Station had received reports of the gang's activities and lay in wait.

This was after an Asian man told police that he had left his apartment in Al Muraqqabat at 4pm with his family, and on returning six hours later found his home's door unlocked and the house ransacked.

Besides discovering his valuables gone, the man also found the metal tool which the suspects used to break in.

The Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID), formed a team to set a trap and arrest the suspects.

On December 21, CID teams conducted surveillance on one of the suspects.

Eventually, police caught him in the act.

The CID arrested another man as he tried to flee the UAE on December 23. On December 31, the CID arrested two more Georgians, who confessed to breaking and entering.

They revealed that they gave their loot to the second suspect who smuggled it out of the country.

He also provided logistical support for the gang.