Police busts gang terrorising Sharjah shops

Police have arrested three men who allegedly robbed a number of shops in Sharjah and Ajman.

An official at Sharjah Police said that they received a number of complaints from residents and shopkeepers about masked men who barged into shops armed with knives and machetes, and stole money from stores and restaurants.

They would then drive away from the crime scene with a stolen vehicle that had a fake licence plate.

The suspects comprised a teenager, identified as 18-year-old J.H. and 30-year-old W.M.J., both from the UAE, in addition to 21-year-old F.H.M. from the Comoros Islands.

After carrying out an investigation, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Sharjah Police was able to identify the 18-year-old suspect. He then confessed that he had carried out the robberies with the help of two accomplices.

On completing the necessary legal procedures, Sharjah Police raided the place where the suspects lived and discovered a number of weapons, including machetes, knives and swords, and mobile phones that were stolen from their victims.

The three men have been referred to the Sharjah Public Prosecution. Police have warned they are intensifying their crackdown on gangs who use knives to steal and have asked the public with any information to contact them immediately.