RIYADH, 2 October 2007 — The spirituality of holy month of Ramadan in which Muslims all over the world seek God’s mercy and forgiveness has not deterred thieves in the capital from trying to break car windows and clean the vehicles of valuables.
In Al-Naseem district of the city, a Saudi reported to the police a man trying to break the window of his car. The man ran away when the car owner spotted him. Based on descriptions of the suspect circulated by the police, a patrol unit later arrested an African youth aged 17.
Police also arrested other suspects who tried to break the windows of a car in Al-Faisaliah area of the city. A local man had reported the incident. Upon seeing him leaving his residence, the suspects jumped in a small Honda and raced away. The police circulated the car’s description to patrol units in the area and the driver of the vehicle was apprehended.
In Al-Mazahimiya, a foreigner reported that he spotted three men trying to steal furniture in a rest house that belonged to his sponsor at late night. The suspects, upon seeing the man, fled the scene. One man was later apprehended and was being questioned.
Police also announced yesterday the arrest of a 22-year-old Arab national who was selling fake gold bracelets. The young man was reportedly posing as an independent gold salesperson. The ripped-off customers later found out that the gold pieces were in fact metal plated with gold. The police managed catch the man in the act.
Meanwhile, three expatriates from the south Indian state of Kerala were arrested on Sunday on charges of brewing alcoholic liquor in their apartment. A team from the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, supported by the police, found four barrels of illicit liquor brewed in their flat in the Nasseriyah district of the city.
The men were arrested because of a complaint by neighbors who smelt an awful odor coming from the apartment.
