Robbers struck while police were watching

SHARJAH // Three Colombian robbers who preyed on customers as they left banks with large amounts of cash were caught in the act, police said yesterday. The men were arrested after they followed a customer in their car, unaware that they themselves were being tracked by detectives who were acting on a tip-off. The gang struck when their target parked outside a shop in Al Qasimia Street, police said.

One suspect got out of the vehicle and tried to break the customer's passenger window, but failed. A second suspect then broke the rear passenger window, and tried to snatch an envelope containing the cash. Officers moved in and arrested the men, then caught the third as he tried to drive away. Their vehicle contained sharp metal objects that could be used to break windows and puncture tyres, police said.

Officers had received several complaints from bank customers saying they had fallen victim to the gang. The suspects were identified by police as HL, BT, and AT. They confessed to a number of other robberies and said they lived in hotels in a neighbouring emirate, police said. The case has been referred to the Sharjah Public Prosecution. @Email:ykakande@thenational.ae