Police arrest gang suspected of warehouse thefts

Sharjah: Police arrested a ten-member gang yesterday accused of brutally assaulting watchmen and stealing from warehouses in industrial areas.

Four more men were also arrested, accused of handling stolen goods. The gang, who called themselves ‘Dogar shehbaz' comprised seven Pakistani men and three Bangladeshis, who stole electrical wires and cables after beating the watchmen unconscious.

A Sharjah Police official said the gang was considered one of the most violent they had come across recently.

The watchmen reported the incidents to the police, which prompted the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Sharjah Police to set up a team to arrest the gang.

Suspicion soon fell on a number of men who lived in a residential apartment in Muwailah. Two Pakastani suspects, S.A.A. — the mastermind who called himself Bedogar — and M.H.A, who went by the name of Bashehbaz, confessed to the crimes and led police to their eight accomplices.

According to a police statement, the suspects said they sold the stolen items to two scrapyards in Industrial Area 10. Police found out the shopkeepers were aware they had bought stolen goods. The four men were subsequently arrested. The 14 suspects were detained and will be referred to Sharjah Public Prosecution.

Sharjah Police urge residents to call 800-151 to report any suspicious behaviour.