SHARJAH // Three men have been charged with stealing more than Dh100,000 from a car, prompting a warning from police that thefts from vehicles are on the increase. A briefcase containing the cash, bank cheques and a passport was taken from a car used by an accountant who worked for the same company as the Palestinian men now facing charges. Police said two brothers, identified as Sami and Samer, were aware the accountant had withdrawn a large sum of money and followed him to his house. When he went inside they smashed a car window and grabbed the briefcase.
Sami gave his brother Dh15,000 (US$4,083) and took the remaining cash to the home of a friend, identified as Bashir, for safekeeping. "He was very generous to all his theft compatriots," said a police source. "He gave Bashir Dh9,000 to keep for him a total of Dh78,000." Police said that at the time of his arrest, Sami had already spent Dh13,000 on clothes and other gifts for his family and girlfriend.
When questioned, he confessed to the crime, police said. They raided Bashir's home on Sunday night and recovered most of the money. The trio were all referred to the Sharjah public prosecution office on charges of robbery. Brig Yusuf Musa Al Naqbi, the head of the Sharjah Criminal Investigation Department, warned motorists against leaving valuables in their vehicles. Thieves had targeted individuals after they were seen withdrawing large sums of money from the bank, he said.
He also said that criminals had taken goods from vehicles after tricking drivers into stopping to check a tyre. While the driver examined the tyre with the man who had stopped him, an accomplice helped himself to valuables in the car, such as a briefcase. @Email:ykakande@thenational.ae
