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28 March 2024

Gardens’ flasher: Dubai communities on alert

Published
By Bindu Suresh Rai

The latest incident involving a 12-year-old girl’s claim of being molested in The Gardens, Jebel Ali has struck fear in the hearts of parents across residential communities in Dubai.

While requests are being made by concerned residents to beef up security in communities such as The Springs, The Meadows and the Arabian Ranches, others are openly discussing a neighbourhood watch programme to tackle the safety issues.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Gary Whitaker, a father of two girls in Arabian Ranches, said: “It is absolutely heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time for that young girl and her family in The Gardens to have to suffer because of a sick man.

“I have two teenage daughters myself, and the idea that someone could even harm a hair on their head fills me with rage.”

With the latest incident, Whitaker and his wife Sally have decided to install security cameras outside their home, along with barring both the children from venturing into the community on their own, without an adult supervisor in tow.

“I know what we are doing may seem extreme to many folks, but the safety of my children is paramount,” said the father. “Naturally, the girls (14 and 16 years) think I am being insane right now, but I would prefer they stay within the street and venture out with the house help or with Sally or myself – especially in the after hours.”

The story is the same with several residents at The Springs, with Kanchan Dixit, a mother of six-year-old Kiara, saying: “My husband has spoken to some families in the area, discussing a neighbourhood watch system. All I know is that I want safety for my child.”

Another Springs resident agreed that a neighbourhood watch system may be the next step forwards, narrating another incident that has stemmed her fears for her own daughter, seven.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, she said: “A neighbour once rang me terrified, asking me to check in on the nanny and her daughter after she received a frantic call from the former about a man who had talked his way into the house.

“Claiming to be a gardener, he said the madam of the house had sent him. And he promptly went on to offer cash to the nanny for sex.

“The nanny pushed him into the backyard and locked the doors, but he escaped. But after complaining to security, the man was caught a few days later. Since, then all of us here are extremely wary of strangers in the neighbourhood and we keep a community link to inform all those concerned of any incidents that may have occurred with one.”

Linney K, a mother of two from The Meadows said: “It’s Halloween time and the children will be out on the streets trick or treating. I am sincerely concerned about their safety with such prowlers on the loose, despite security.

“I urge parents to ensure their kids are under adult supervision at all times during the festive period.”

Earlier this week, an Indian family in The Gardens, Jebel Ali, complained of their 12-year-old being molested by a ‘blonde Arab man’ while she was downstairs throwing out the garbage.

Since, reports state the family is moving out of the community, citing safety concerns.

In August, a similar scare had residents of The Gardens outraged when reports came in of a man, described as six-foot tall flashing his privates.

A resident of Building No 20 said he had witnessed a huge man, who looked mentally disturbed playing with himself about six months ago.

“I looked out of the window and saw this man sitting near a bush close to a tree.

“I was shocked to see him playing with himself in the open,” M Qazi who has been living in the community for almost six years, told Emirates 24|7 earlier.

Similarly, another resident of the Gardens, said she and her friend were walking along with their kids towards Winchester School when they saw a man sitting near the pavement.

“As we got closer he suddenly flashed us. We just screamed, dragged our kids and ran away,” she said.

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