The suspect, police said, is unemployed and of an African nationality.

“The suspect had the habit of pretending to use ATM machines around the city. In reality, he would stand idle by the machine waiting for victims, which normally involved the elderly people, to commit his stealing,” said Jeddah police spokesman Brig. Misfer Al-Juaid.

Al-Juaid said when the suspect saw the elderly approaching the ATM to withdraw cash, he would come forward under the pretext of offering his help to use the machine.

"The suspect used to hold a fake ATM card, and while pretending to help the victims, he would take their original ATM card and switch it with the fake card. The suspect told investigators he would then ask the victims for the account password, knowing the card would not work and the transaction would fail. Subsequently, he would return the card and leave,” said Brig. Al-Juaid.

Later on, the suspect would return to the ATM and use the stolen card to max out the victim’s account.

A police net resulted in the arrest of the suspect, Al-Juaid said. Secret policemen were placed near several ATMs, which enabled the investigators to identify and apprehend the suspect.