DAMMAM, 21 November 2003 — The last few days of Ramadan, when night turns into day and shoppers traditionally throng souks and shopping malls until the small hours, are proving a bonanza for pickpockets in the Eastern Province.

Police have increased their vigil at crowded hotspots, but no arrests have been made.

On Wednesday evening, pickpockets were on a virtual rampage, with three expatriates losing their money in a single spot within 20 minutes of each other near the Speed Cash downtown office of the Saudi American Bank. All three — two Indians and a Pakistani — had gone to the bank to remit money to their families back home.

Syed Arshad Husain Qazi of Hyderabad reached the Speed Cash branch here around 8.30 p.m. The bank had just opened its doors and there was a rush at the entrance. Qazi said that a few minutes before entering the bank he had felt his wallet in his back pocket. The wallet contained SR4,000 and some change, his Iqama, driving license and ATM and credit cards.

“There was a lot of jostling and pushing at the entrance as everyone wanted to be in the front of the queue,” he said. While waiting in the queue he noticed that his back pocket felt “unusually light,” and to his horror he found that his wallet was missing. He came out of the bank and frantically started searching for his wallet.

“It never occurred to me that my pocket had been picked. That is something very unusual here.”

While he was searching his wallet, he discovered that two other people had been targeted as well.

Nazir Muhammad of India lost SR1,000 while a Pakistani who requested anonymity said that he lost his money which he had come to send back home.

Qazi immediately called 999 and police arrived within minutes. After preliminary inquiries the police officer asked Qazi to accompany him to the police station to make a detailed statement and to register an official complaint.

Qazi wanted to follow the police car to the station but the officer insisted that he should come in the police car. Once at the police station, Qazi recorded his statement and gave all details about himself. He was then asked to go.

“I told the officer that my car was at the bank and since my pocket has been picked I couldn’t hire a cab and asked him to drop me at the bank.”

This did not happen and Qazi had to walk to his car.

“I just can’t understand their logic,” he said.

Once at the bank, Qazi told a clerk about the theft. “He said there was nothing new in my experience and they had had several similar complaints in the last few days,” he added.

Dammam’s Gold Market and Alkhobar’s Swaiket Market have also seen a spate of pickpocketing.

Police say they have increased surveillance and will deal firmly with any culprits they may apprehend.