Gang held for stealing and dismantling cars

A three-month investigation by a special team of Dubai Police has led to the arrest of five Asians who were caught red-handed stealing, dismantling and exporting cars.

In a novel scheme, the gang targeted cars that were parked at the same spot for a long time. They would first leave their contact details on the windscreen of the car displaying their intention to buy the vehicle just to make sure whether the owner is in town or not. No response to their offer would in most cases mean the owner is out of town. This would make their job easy.

The gang stole 32 cars using this method without being traced by anyone. They would take the cars to a warehouse in Sharjah using a rescue pickup and dissemble the vehicles, and then export the parts. The cars were then re-assembled and sold in those countries.

However, after a few months when the owners returned, they reported loss of their cars.

The police launched a massive hunt with the help of 100 officials after about 20 cars were reportedly stolen using the same modus operandi, said General Khalil Al Mansouri, Director General of the Dubai general Department of Criminal Investigation at a press conference.

The team was divided into several units and closely monitored several parking areas, which were commonly targeted like Al Rifa’a, Satwa and Jebel Ali.

The hunt led to the driver of a rescue vehicle, who was handed the job of transporting the cars to the warehouse used by the gang, who in turn led to the warehouse and finally the culprits.

The team raided the warehouse and caught the five suspects with parts of 11 stolen cars.

A raid to the residence of the five also recovered computers, car keys and Roads and Transport Authority seal they used to issue fake certificates.