Police patrols step up surveillance of banks after spate of thefts

Dubai: A man who is in the UAE illegally has been arrested for stealing large amounts of money from people directly after they withdrew cash from banks in Al Rigga area.

The arrest is a result of a Dubai Police campaign to maintain security at banks and financial institutions.

A.S., an Asian man, age unknown, was deported and banned from the UAE by Sharjah Police in the past because of his involvement in stealing from bank customers.

However, he returned under a different name on a visit visa last February for a month and then entered the country through the Al Ain-Buraimi border.

Police reports did not disclose the amount of money the suspect has stolen.

Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Director of Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said: "Thefts focusing on people who withdraw large amounts of money from banks have become more visible recently. The thieves are convincing victims they meet in [the] bank's car park or [near] the bank that they have a flat tyre and as soon as the person [gets] out from the car they snatch the money and run away".

As a result of the incidents the CID has intensified patrols as part of a wider campaign to ensure banks and financial institutions are secure, according to Brigadier Al Mansouri.

A team from the CID arrested A.S. on July 15 while he was trying to escape from an area in Al Rigga after he realised that he was under surveillance, according to Brigadier Al Mansouri.

A police patrol in the bank in Al Rigga Street became suspicious of A.S as he was carefully monitoring people who had just left banks and they arrested him.

Following his arrest, police investigations revealed that, in addition to recent theft attempts, the suspect is also connected to nine incidents of stealing from bank customers during the period from the end of 2006 to early 2007.

He used to wait for his victims, who had all just withdrawn large amounts of money, and approach them to say they had a flat tyre and, once they got out of the car, he would steal their money and flee.