RIYADH, 14 February 2007 — Police in the Kingdom’s capital recently arrested a gang suspected of threatening families and stealing their valuables, Al-Riyadh newspaper reported yesterday.
Responding to complaints from Saudis and expatriates, the police arrested the three suspected ringleaders, all men, and 54 others, including eight women who were selling the stolen jewelry and are believed to be working with them. The men are being charged with various criminal activities, including stealing cars and selling their parts.
“While I was away (during this past Ramadan) a thief came into the house and took all valuables,” said one of the victims of the crimes police have linked to the suspects. “He entered the bedroom and threatened my wife and ordered her to give whatever money or gold she had. He threatened to kill her if she didn’t give him everything of value. We moved after that. The police have now made these arrests, but we haven’t been able to recover most of our stolen belongings, most importantly our passports.”
