Jewel thieves cut through concrete but get undone by flimsy iron grill

Jewellers in the Meena Bazaar area of Bur Dubai have become more vigilant about safety after an aborted robbery attempt by a gang of three that was trying to rob the Viral Jewellery outlet.

There are many jewellery outlets in Meena Bazaar that have stocked up for the busy Eid shopping season.

Robbers made a hole in the floor of the level one shared apartment located what they thought was above the jewellery shop. But they landed on the mezzanine floor office of the store.

Then they tried to break open a grill that separated the office from the shop below. The attempt could not be carried out successfully as the automatic alarm rang, giving them away.

The three took off with what they could grab from the office. The booty was a few laptops. One of them was later caught when he tried to sell his share, sources report.

They said the gang of three Asians dug the hole by cutting concrete from the room floor using sophisticated cutters and hammers over a period of a couple of months.

Preparations began with the renting of one room in the three-bedroom flat above the outlet. They claimed to be employees of an offshore oil rig. Even the other residents of the flat, sublet by a restaurant owner operating from the same building, did not know about the covert drilling operation.

Bur Dubai Police rushed to the building early morning Friday after the alarm rang. They checked the jewellery shop and went back thinking that the alarm could have been triggered by a mouse or some other animal. The store employees saw the manmade hole only on Saturday morning and a manhunt was launched to locate the three Asians who were living in the apartment.

A staff member at Viral Jewellery confirmed the incident and said investigations are going on. Police found drilling equipment, electric cutters, hammers, a hook to take a big box from the shop, folding ladder and other accessories that the gang kept in their room for the drilling operation.

There are two jewellery outlets located close by. The film-style robbery attempt has shocked residents and other commercial establishments in the area.

Dubai Police is using fingerprints found at the spot to find the culprits. The gang have left behind their personal belongings and the drilling equipment. The absconding residents were regular visitors at a nearby restaurant.

Viral Jewellery owner did not speak about the incident.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.