An African gang specialising in robbing villas posed as beggars to disguise themselves and scout potential targets, a top Dubai Police official told this website.
The gang burgled four villas in Dubai - one in Jumeirah, two in Al Qusais and one in Mirdif - stealing jewellery worth millions of dirhams, as well as many electronic items.
Brigadier Khalil Al Mansouri, Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department of Dubai Police, said that the African gang of six men wore old and dirty kandouras and would knock on the doors of villas during Ramadan, a few minutes before iftar.
“They targeted young local couples who, as is the local custom, would go to their parents’ home to break their fast. If nobody answered when they knocked they would break into the villa. If someone opened the door, then they would pretend to be beggars and ask for food,” Brigadier Mansouri said.
He pointed out that many residents in the targeted areas spotted these ‘beggars’ and said they looked suspicious, but did not report them to the police as they said they did not want to harm beggars during Ramadan.
Emirates 24|7
