A shop worker who stopped a thief from fleeing with Dh2.7 million ($735,190) in cash said he acted on the spur of the moment.
Keshur Karu Chavda, 32, who works in the Naif district of old Dubai, said he was walking in the area on October 26 when he heard two people shouting to stop a man who was running in his direction.
Mr Chavda said he saw the man had a bag in his hand.
“I really didn't get the time to think but I had an instinct that this man was doing something wrong,” he said.
“I ran towards the man and grabbed him.
I hit him on the chest, pushed him to the ground and held him tightly until others came to help
Keshur Karu Chavda
“He was nearly my size, so it wasn't easy to overpower him. I hit him on the chest, pushed him to the ground and held him tightly until others came to help.
“I took the bag and gave it back to the owners.”
Mr Chavda said Dubai Police officers were quickly at the scene and arrested the man, who has been referred to the public prosecution.
Dubai Police said he had watched two men carrying two bags containing currencies worth a total of Dh4.25m.
He grabbed one of the bags, only to be foiled by Mr Chavda, who said he was very happy he could help someone and save their hard-earned money.
“It was around Diwali time, the most auspicious time of the year for us Hindus, and I felt good after helping someone,” he said.
“It was the new year according to the Hindu calendar, and I thanked and prayed to God for giving me this chance to help.”
Mr Chavda was praised for his selfless act and, on Monday, police officers visited.
“They came to the shop and gave me a certificate of appreciation and a gift. It made me feel proud and happy. What I did was my duty towards society,” he said.
“It is a beautiful place. The UAE treats everyone equally, and the police try to make it safe for all people. I’m proud I could do something to make the city safer,” he said.
Mr Chavda's boss told The National that he was proud of his brave and honest employee.
“I praised him for his actions and told him what he did is a good thing. He is an honest and loyal person,” said Nilesh Megchiani, 51, the Indian owner of XPERT General Trading.
“He has been working with me for more than 12 years. He is like a brother to me.”
Local heroes
This was not the first time that a Naif shopkeeper has become a community hero.
The most recent was in August 2021, when four men caught a pregnant cat as she fell 10 metres from a balcony in Murar, Deira.
They caught her in a blanket after she hopped over a second-floor balcony and plunged to the street below.
Their rescue was captured on video by a shopkeeper and the footage went viral online.
It was shared by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. He praised the men’s efforts. The three men and the shopkeeper were each awarded Dh50,000 by the Ruler for their actions.
In April, Indian Jaffer Parapurath stopped a thief from running off with stolen cash.
Mr Parapurath was at his uncle’s cafeteria in Deira’s Bani Yas when he saw the man trying to flee.
He tripped and caught the thief.
Story of the cat saved by community heroes in Dubai — in pictures
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What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
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