Safecracker caught red-handed

An elusive safecracker who has been popping in and out of the UAE to practise his nefarious trade for the past three years, has finally been nabbed by police.

The suspect, a Pakistani, had allegedly been targeting firms in Sharjah and Dubai while eluding police for years, mainly because he used to keep entering the country on a visit visa, hit a target, and promptly skip out.

He was finally caught red-handed while he was trying to crack open a safe in a firm located in Al Musalla area. The arrest was made after an alert watchman tipped off police.

The watchman noticed a man entering the building and later heard strange noises and movement on the 11th floor. He instantly notified security officials, and police rushed to the building and caught him in the act.

The suspect admitted to having committed nine break-ins in Sharjah and ten in Dubai. Fingerprints lifted from the sites at which previous thefts had been committed also matched the suspect's.

A Sharjah Police spokesman warned about the risk posed to the public by the increasing numbers of crimes committed by visitors to the country.

He said such crimes by those on visit visas generally constitute high security risk since the visitor reckons he can escape any penalty by leaving the country.