JEDDAH, 16 August 2004 — Police in Jeddah have arrested three gangs involved in burglaries including those suspected of breaking into Al-Jazirah Arabic daily’s regional office in the city.
According to the Okaz daily, criminal intelligence officers received information on the gangs following the arrest of a Chadian, a gang member, who opened fire at police when they chased him.
Security sources said police are still looking for two more members of a gang wanted for burglary. “Police have already identified their hideout,” the sources said.
Investigations have proved that some of the arrested gang members had burgled the building housing the Al-Jazirah office and escaped with computers, cameras and more than SR100,000 in cash.
Meanwhile, gunmen waylaid a Saudi employee in Al-Ahsa region recently and fled with SR100,000 in his car. The money was for paying salaries of the workers at an automobile workshop.
The man was attacked on his way to the workshop. “While I was passing through a rugged road, two people, dressed like Indians, opened fire at me,” Abdullah Al-Eisa told Al-Riyadh Arabic daily.
While Eisa was trying to bandage his bleeding wound using a piece of cloth, the gunmen took the money and disappeared. Eisa informed the police who came while he was receiving first aid at a clinic. Eisa was then taken to King Fahd Hospital in Hofuf for specialized treatment.
Police investigating the case said it was the first reported incident where expartriates armed with guns were involved in a robbery. “We cannot say anything until the investigations are complete,” one officer said.
