Dubai: Mahmoud Al Mousa approaches his job as a parking inspector with a gentle demeanour that hides his tough as nails attitude when it comes to criminals.
The 38-year-old Emirati parking inspector with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is just as serious about his responsibility as a citizen vigilante, something that the two thieves and an alcohol-smuggling gang he busted will readily admit.
"It all started in 2002 when I saw a man snatching a woman's handbag and running away. I couldn't stand it and I had to do something; so I chased him and caught him and didn't let go until the police took him," he said.
The handbag contained Dh75,000 and was returned to its rightful owner.
"When I went back home and told my mother and my wife and children, their first reaction was fear. They asked me if I wasn't afraid I would get hurt, but to me it didn't matter. As a citizen, I had to do something to stop the crime, and I did," he told Gulf News in an interview.
Although this first incident went without official recognition, it did not deter Al Mousa from staying alert to his vigilante role. In 2006, he saw people chasing a thief who had snatched a briefcase containing Dh120,000 from a bank customer.
Since he had been watching the scene unfold from the other side, he managed to surprise the thief by jumping at him and throwing him to the ground and holding him until police arrived.
"I received a call from Naif police station two months later telling me that I would be honoured for my bravery and, although I was thrilled with the honour, I am not doing what I do for any reason other than to protect my country and its people."
When Al Mousa received a certificate from the police, his colleagues believed he had won a cash reward.
In 2006, Al Mousa was honoured a second time after he busted a smuggling gang in a parking lot. "I saw these people acting weirdly and out of my experience I realised they must be doing something wrong and when I approached them, they ran, so I went and had a look at their car, which contained boxes," he said.
Al Mousa has also returned many lost items that he found while doing the rounds of parking lots. He was honoured a third time by Dubai Police for returning a wallet containing money and credit cards.
The latest feather in Al Mousa's cap came when he was informed that he would be honoured for his efforts by the Ministry of Interior with the Community Service Award.
"I was honoured by Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Interior Minister, who awarded me a medal in December in appreciation of all efforts," he said.
"For me, this is a medal that I will always treasure as it came from Shaikh Saif himself. All I want is to set an example for my children and for them to be proud of me," he said.
The 38-year-old Emirati is the father of four children. Prior to his current job which he took up in 2001, he was in the armed forces and, during his years of service, he took part in peace-keeping efforts in Somalia, for which he earned a medal. He was also decorated with the Federation Anniversary Medal.
As a citizen activist, he has reported pricing violations, improper advertisements and unlicensed car repair shops to the Dubai Economic Department besides reporting traffic accidents and security violations.
