Seven arrested for stealing Dh2m from exchange shop

Police said yesterday they had arrested seven people who stole more than Dh2 million from an exchange shop.

Brigadier Khamis Mattar Al Muzainah, Director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation, told a news conference the gang was rounded up within 24 hours of carrying out the robbery.

An exchange shop sent two of its employees with a large amount of money to meet a man who wanted to exchange $1 million in cash for dirhams.

After they met the man, he verified they had the money and made a telephone call. Three African men then burst into the place pretending they were police officers and showing a military identity card. They took the money bag, along with the victims' mobile phones and ran away.

Police formed an investigation team immediately. They quickly arrested the man who had met the exchange dealers, a GCC citizen. He admitted committing the crime with a group of Africans, one of whom was the planner of the whole operation.

Within six hours, other gang members, including two women, in various places of Deira and Bur Dubai were arrested.

One of the women, who was involved in the planning, was captured while trying to make her getaway at the airport.

Gang uses fake army identity cards

A gang set up an elaborate congame using fake army IDs to steal more than Dh2 million from a money exchange.

A GCC national was involved in the operation with the men and two women who were only identified as being from an African nation.

The police also partially blamed the victims for exchanging such a large amount of money without taking precautions.