MAKKAH, 5 October 2007 — Police recently received a number of reports of men on motorcycles snatching purses and mobile phones out of the hands of pedestrians. Two men were arrested for this crime: a Yemeni living in Saudi Arabia illegally and a Saudi citizen.
Police said the two men confessed to their crimes and fingered 14 other men committing similar crimes. Police then arrested these men: five Yemenis and nine Saudis all aged 19 to 27.
The suspects are accused of committing 51 motorcycle snatchings. Men in the group are also accused of stealing five motorcycles, four cars and one air conditioner. Two cases of robbing commercial establishments are also on the rap sheet.
Police said SR40,000 in cash was found at the premises where then gang was arrested, along with 30 mobile phones, two video cameras and a laptop.
