Saudi Arabia: 10-man gang busted for stealing sheep in Mecca
Gang targeted Mecca, Jeddah farms, stole 800 sheep sold them for half price at market
Abu Dhabi: Mecca Police have arrested a 10-member gang for allegedly stealing more than 800 sheep, police said.
A number of reports were received by police departments in Mecca and Jeddah, about thefts from sheep pens on the outskirts and outside the Holy Capital, police added.
The criminal modus operandi was to observe sheep pens and farms, then divide into groups that monitor and cut fences, take the sheep out of the pens at night, and drive them far away, before loading and transporting them to the market and selling them at half price.
Investigations led the police to the perpetrators, who were arrested in Ka’akiya in Mecca.
The men, workers of Sudanese nationality with criminal records, stole about 800 sheep, police said.
A record of the seizures and persons was prepared, and handed over to the Public Prosecution for further investigation and trial, police said.