Gang ditches electrocuted member after heist goes bad

Dubai: An Indian man was left behind by his gang after being electrocuted while trying to cut and steal an electric cable. He sustained severe injuries.

A gang of 10 members who steal cables failed their 15th attempt at a job when one of the cables they tried to cut had an electric current running through it, said Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Humaid Al Merri, director of the crime investigation division at Dubai Police.

The suspect identified as LS was involved in the November 5 attempted robbery when the cable exploded causing multiple severe burns on different parts of his body, Al Merri said.

The suspect crawled to a nearby supermarket in Jebel Ali Industrial area after his gang left without him. Workers at the supermarket contacted the Dubai Police operations room, which immediately transferred him to Rashid Hospital.

The suspect told the investigating unit from the criminal investigation department at Dubai Police that a cement block fell on him, causing the burns on his body. According to Al Merri, the unit examining the case was not convinced by the suspect's statements.

After frequent interrogations the suspect confessed to his involvement in the attempted robbery and gave up nine others involved, including a taxi driver who drove the suspects to and from the crime scenes.

The copper in the cables were sold to different stores in Sharjah, he said.

Within two hours the taxi driver was arrested while the other eight suspects were arrested nine hours later.

According to LS, 14 cable robberies have been committed by the Indian gang members who are all in the country illegally except for the taxi driver.

Eight have been charged with theft and absconding from their sponsors and the taxi driver was charged with criminal participation. They have been referred to the public prosecution.