The gang had carried out a chain of street muggings and robberies in Riyadh, targeting stores, homes, warehouses and pharmacies.
Police also seized some SR315,000 in cash, expensive watches, computers, cell phones, pharmaceutical drugs and cell phone recharge cards. The group had also stolen a number of cars.
A police spokesman said the gang comprised expatriates of several nationalities whose age ranged from 20 to 40 years. He added that the police received 107 complaints of thefts within a specific area of the capital city.
“By looking at the modus operandi, police realized that an organized gang was behind the crimes as all of them had been carried out in the same way,” said the spokesman.
By following up information and clues provided by victims, police laid a trap and were able to arrest the men on different occasions. All of the men have been identified by their victims.
Police are investigating whether the suspects have also been involved in other unreported crimes. They will be brought to court as soon as inquiries are completed.
According to official sources, most crimes in Saudi Arabia are committed by illegal residents who have overstayed their visas. As a result, the government announced in September an amnesty for people who had overstayed their visas. Illegal residents would be allowed to leave the Kingdom without incurring penalties during the amnesty, which will end on March 18.
A recent survey conducted by a local Arabic newspaper said security forces in Riyadh are faced with a massive task in policing some districts of the city, which is one of the fastest growing Arab capitals.
Shumaisi, Nasseriyah, Faisaliah, Kubeirah and Batha districts are particular hot spots of crime and hardly policed.
The report said the main challenge facing the security forces in these crime-ridden areas is a lack of manpower and resources, as there are only a few police stations and pickets in these districts.
