Two in court for stealing 55-inch smart TV

Dubai: Two men have been accused of trespassing into a man’s villa and stealing his 55-inch smart television set and surround system while he was away on holiday. The Emirati men, 35-year-old A.S. and 25-year-old E.M., were said to have sneaked through a window from the villa’s backside after they broke it down with an interlock then took out the TV set and other appliances through the main door in August 2014.

Records said the suspects were identified for their involvement in other thefts that had been carried out in the same modus operandi.

Prosecutors accused A.S. and E.M. of robbing the Canadian man’s villa at night.

Jail wardens did not bring A.S. from his detention and present him before the Dubai Court of First Instance where he was scheduled to enter his plea on Thursday. Meanwhile E.M. pleaded not guilty and denied his accusation before presiding judge Urfan Omar.

According to the charge-sheet, prosecutors said the suspects broke the window after they sneaked into the villa and stole the Dh5,000-worth smart TV, a receiver, a surround system and Dh3,500 in cash.

The Canadian man claimed to prosecutors that his gardener called him while he was on holiday and told him that someone had broken into the villa.

“The gardener reported to the police what he had seen. When I returned to Dubai the next day, I discovered that the thieves had stolen the television set and the surround system and took some cash that had been left in the bedroom. I went to the police station and gave them my statement. A month later I was summoned to the police station and when I went there, I found out that they had recovered my 55-inch TV, receiver and surround system,” he testified to prosecutors.

A police sergeant claimed to prosecutors that E.M. was arrested first following his involvement in another theft case that had been carried out using the same modus operandi.

“We obtained the prosecutor’s permission and brought E.M. from another detention centre where he had been detained for his involvement in another case. During questioning, he claimed that he had committed the theft in collaboration with A.S. E.M. alleged that A.S. drove his car to Mirdif area and they jumped over the wall of the Canadian man’s villa … they opened the window, stole the items and absconded,” he testified.

Records said A.S. was apprehended later. The trial continues.