DUBAI // A gang of eight has been arrested over the theft of Dh1 million worth of electronic goods from a Jebel Ali warehouse.
Police said the suspects knew that the warehouse owner did not visit every day and that the space was not properly secured.
Maj Gen Khalil Al Mansouri, of Dubai Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, said: “The owner of the storehouse said he was at the place on a Thursday and was surprised to see goods were stolen when he came back on a Sunday.
“Preliminary investigations showed that the warehouse was not completely secured and shut with a simple lock that only takes seconds to break, something that helped the suspects with the crime without being noticed.
“There was a simple CCTV camera that may provide some kind of defence, however, [it’s not enough when] there were different kinds of electronic goods worth Dh10 million.”
The police chief said a total of 10 people were involved in the crime — the eight at the scene, the mastermind and an owner of an electronic goods business similar to that of the victim.
“The businessman prepared the paperwork to have the stolen goods shipped via an airline to an Asian country,” Mag Gen Al Mansouri said, adding that two members of the gang, who have international arrest warrants issued against their names, had already travelled to the country to receive the shipment.
Dubai Police coordinated with the authorities of the Asian country and the stolen merchandise was immediately seized when the plane landed.
“The electronic goods were immediately sent back on the same plane,” the major general said, warning business owners to properly protect their merchandise by setting up multiple CCTV cameras and assigning qualified security guards at all times.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae