RIYADH, 29 August 2007 — Five Saudi men between the ages of 18 and 22 were arrested on suspicion of being part of a car-theft ring, the Riyadh police said in a statement yesterday. The young men are being charged with stealing two cars, one of which contained SR58,000 in cash.
A foreign resident reported his car stolen as he was on his way to deposit the cash into his company’s account. The victim of the crime managed to get the license plate number of the vehicle used by the suspects. Police managed to track this vehicle down hours later.
The police said the expatriate was robbed using a hit-and-run tactic where the crooks lightly hit the vehicle from behind. The car is stolen by one of the thieves in the vehicle while the driver is out arguing with the driver.
After making their arrest, police said one of the suspects confessed to the crime and fingered his accomplices. The other suspects were arrested at the flat the principal suspect said was being used as the headquarters of their theft ring. Police suspect these men of having committed other crimes and an investigation is ongoing.
Riyadh police warned residents to be careful when exiting vehicles with engines on during disputes over accidents. Drivers should turn their engines off, remove their keys and even lock their doors to avoid the hit-and-run scam.
