Suspects arrested over luxury car thefts

DUBAI // Police have arrested several people in connection with the theft of dozens of luxury cars by two separate rings of thieves. In the first case, the gang stole vehicles including Chevrolets and Fords from residents and car rental companies over a two-month period, Dubai Police said. Six men, identified as AY, WY, HS, AS, BA and MY, were believed to be "professionals" who forged documents to obtain car ownership from banks then sold and exported the vehicles.

A tip-off led to the arrest of the gang leader on Friday in Ajman, police said. A search of his flat produced 35 car registrations and documents for money transfers worth more than Dh11.38m (US$3.1m). Police said they retrieved 22 of the 46 late-model cars that were stolen. The second case involved four men, identified as MI, AY, NS and MS, who police believe used false Pakistani passports to obtain cars from rental companies and forged documents to export the stolen vehicles to Iraq.

rabubaker@thenational.ae