DUBAI // An elderly man stalked travellers at Dubai International Airport and stole their luggage, the Dubai Court of Misdemeanours heard this morning.
The defendant, SM, a 60-year-old Egyptian visitor, was spotted by airport police in November and December coming to the airport and roaming around with no apparent purpose, records said.
According to police testimony, the defendant was put under close observation by a surveillance team after receiving several complaints of missing luggage.
Records said that on January 25, SM was caught on camera stalking a female Indian traveller.
The woman, identified in records as PJ, 27, left her luggage about 9pm as she spoke to an employee at Gate C in Building 1 about the departure time of her flight, she testified.
She said that when she returned three minutes later, she discovered one of her bags was missing.
She said the bag contained about Dh3,000 and a gold bracelet, among other items.
Police followed the man, who was leaving the airport and arrested him for stealing the bag, records said, adding that when he was accused of theft, he denied it and told the arresting officers he had found the bag and was taking it to deliver to police.
Prosecution attached a DVD recording of the incident, which shows SM taking the bag and leaving.
salamir@thenational.ae
