Sharjah: A gang of 17 expatriate men were arrested for allegedly committing a series of burglaries in warehouses and buildings under construction in Al Sajja area.
The Sharjah Police said on Saturday that the gang specialised in robbing these kind of premises.
Lieutenant colonel Mohammad Al Shamisi, Head of Criminal and Investigation Department at Sharjah Police, said they acted after receiving a complaint from a warehouse owner in Al Sajja. A group had attempted to steal from the warehouse and assaulted the guard who tried to prevent them. They made away with a large quantity of valuables, two mobile phones and cash.
A team of criminal investigation officers were formed to investigate the incident and arrest the culprits.
The CID and police team tracked down the suspects, identified and arrested all of them. The men — all of them from Asian nationalities — were illegal residents and had run away from their sponsors.
They also confessed to several other robberies at many residential villas, under-construction buildings and commercial warehouses, and used pickup trucks — also stolen — during the crimes.
The gang primary stole construction equipment, cranes, and metal scaffolding, which they sold off for money. The police also arrested the person who bought the stolen goods and equipment from the gang.
All the suspects have been referred to the Public Prosecution for further action.
Colonel Ebrahim Al Ajel, director of Criminal and Investigation Department, urged owners of industrial premises to secure them by installing CCTVs and alarm systems, and ensure the entrances and exits are secured with better locks.
