JEDDAH, 5 June 2007 — Police have arrested a notorious gang of thieves, dubbed the “Arafat Gang,” at their hide-out in the Aziziah district of the city. Police sources said the gang is responsible for over 26 robberies across the city.
Col. Misfer Al-Juaed, official spokesman for Jeddah police, said the gang is responsible for over 26 crimes including the theft of four cars, burglary of 10 residential villas and 12 business premises that include real estate offices, cell phone shops, and clothes retail shops.
“The arrests were made following thorough investigations after a spate of robberies were reported in the city,” said Al-Juaed, adding that the six-man gang comprises four Chadians and a Palestinian. All of those arrested are below 20 years of age.
“They varied the places that they targeted to avoid getting caught by police. The gang would steal a car and then burgle a building. They would dispose of the goods before getting rid of the vehicle,” said Al-Juaed.
The ‘Arafat Gang’ also robbed residential homes while the residents were asleep. “In one case, they entered a couple’s bedroom while they were asleep. They robbed jewelry and some money kept in a bag next to the couple’s bed,” said Al-Juaed, adding that on arrest the gang members admitted to their crimes.
Al-Juaed also said that police were able to arrest a Yemeni man in relation to the murder of an Indonesian woman, whose decaying and badly bruised body was found close to some workshops in the Baghdadiah District of the city.
The body was found by a Pakistani national working at a workshop close by. Forensic experts at the time said that the woman had not died of natural causes.
A person recently arrested for a felony led the police to the man, who had been arrested by the Passport Department and was awaiting deportation.
On questioning, the man confessed to dumping the body in front of the shop and added that the Indonesian overstayer was housed with some of his Indonesian friends when she died of natural causes. He added that he helped them dispose of the body for some money.
Passport Department Arrests
The Passport Department also recently arrested an overstayer working in the fruit and vegetable market, who carried a Saudi ID card and pretended to be a Saudi national. The man claimed he was from the south of the Kingdom and is considered to be one of the biggest fruit and vegetable distributors to small street outlets in Jeddah.
Passport officials also arrested 183 overstayers, mostly African nationals, in a raid on the Al-Hindawiyyah district, located in south Jeddah. Most of the arrested were disfigured cripples who had taken up begging as a profession. Capt. Yasser Al-Shaeer, said the majority of those arrested were managed by a group of old people that provided shelter to them in exchange for money.
— With input from Ali Al-Amri.
