The luggage belonged to different individuals, who told police the items disappeared as they were praying in the airport's mosque.

One of the victims of the theft was identified as a 57-year-old US citizen. The man said his luggage contained a mobile phone and about SR3,500 worth of other items.

“Investigators were able to obtain camera footage from outside the airport’s mosque and were able to identify the suspect's vehicle, a white 2009 Hyundai,” said Jeddah police spokesman Col. Misfer Al-Juaid.

Meanwhile, an Indian national was arrested in Jeddah’s southern industrial area for misappropriating SR224,650 from his business associate, police said.

A 39-year-old Saudi reported to police that his partner had disappeared with the money, said Al-Juaid, adding that police were able to recover the money.

In another case, police here were able to recover 30 gas canisters stolen from a 45-year-old Makkah farmer. 

“Part of the stolen items were found at a Saudi merchant's property in Jeddah. On questioning, the merchant told investigators that he had purchased the items from a Sudanese from Makkah,” said Al-Juaid.

Police were able to track down the Sudanese, who told investigators that he had bought the items from Kaakia in Makkah, but denied knowledge the canisters were stolen.