ABU DHABI, 15 July 2007 — Police arrested 24 Asian expatriates for stealing electrical cables from the outskirts of Abu Dhabi and other emirates.
“The operation was carried out under the instructions of Interior Minister Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif ibn Zayed,” said Brig. Mohamed Al-Awadi, director general of police operations at the General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police.
After receiving a number of theft reports, police teams were set up to monitor movements of the suspects until all of them were arrested, he said in a statement.
The first suspect was arrested from the airport. During interrogation, he admitted to being an accomplice in several thefts and directed police to suspected accomplices and collaborators.
Police said the suspects confessed to robbing over 100 places in Abu Dhabi and elsewhere in the country.
Al-Awadi urged the owners of commercial shops to stay away from the stolen goods. “Do not buy commodities without original documents to prove the origin of the products offered for sale,” he said.
He also urged citizens and residents to report any cases of absconding workers or the absence of any person under their sponsorship, to ensure that persons under their sponsorship will not blame them for any violations of the law.
He also asked them not to shelter any absconder, since such persons may prove to be a threat to the community.
