5 member gang caught after suspected robberies

Abu Dhabi: A five-person Pakistani gang accused of carrying out late-night robberies of five private institutions was caught by the Abu Dhabi Police during an investigative search operation dubbed Night Rats.

Colonel Dr Rashid Mohammad Borshid, director of Criminal Investigation Department at Abu Dhabi Police, said that the suspects have allegedly specialised in robbing shops located in the Musaffah and Mafraq industrial areas in Abu Dhabi.

Borshid added that the five men, H.J., 30, T.N., 25, A.H.,28, B.W.,25, and N.R., 26, repeatedly tied up security guards belonging to these companies and disconnected the surveillance cameras.

Wearing masks and carrying weapons such as knives the gang allegedly stole cash, diesel gas and brass items worth around Dh1.8 million, according to police officials.

After receiving several reports regarding stolen items from contracting, transportation and electronic key-making stores during the past two months, the police managed to capture the suspects despite the absence of details and a clear description of the alleged members.

The men have reportedly confessed to their crimes adding that they developed a strategy by which the muscular members would allegedly attack the guards while a smaller member would disconnect surveillance cameras. Meanwhile, a member would stand outside the location during the robberies while the rest of the gang gathered items found in office drawers and cupboards before fleeing.

Victims of the reported crimes have told the police that the gang knocked on the doors of their targeted spots and attacked any guards who opened it. The guards were then threatened with weapons and were coerced to give them the keys to safes and warehouses.

Finally, police reported that guards were locked in a room after being tied down and their personal belongings were stolen while the gang allegedly robbed the area.

The suspects reportedly alternated between two vehicles, a salon and a pick-up truck which they used depending on the items they planned on stealing on the day, police officials said.

Borshid said lack of training for many of the security guards who were on duty helped to make the work easier for the alleged criminals.

Overall, police reported that 11 security guards and workers were attacked and locked in five institutions and only managed to tell authorities about the incidents after escaping or being found by their employees the next morning.

Borshid advised institution owners to lock their windows and doors after hours, not to leave any cash or valuables hidden and to refrain from trusting their security guards with all the keys and information regarding the whereabouts of any important assets.

The official also advised larger companies to properly train their security staff on how to respond in emergencies and not to hire ordinary workers to do the security job.