Jeddah police have arrested a four-member African gang responsible for several cash-snatching incidents outside bank premises over the past two months.

Three gang members were caught as they attempted to nab SR160,000 in cash from a Saudi citizen who was coming out of a bank in the Salamah district last week, said Col. Aati Al-Quraishi of the Makkah regional police headquarters on Friday.

“Gang members are in the 20 to 47-year age group,” he said.

“The gang has been involved in 18 such incidents over the past two months, stealing cash totaling almost SR1.3 million.”

Maj. Gen. Abdulaziz Asooli, Makkah region police chief, deployed a special investigation team headed by Maj. Gen. Abdullah Al-Qaitani, director-general of the Jeddah police, to investigate the incidents.

Police have urged residents to be vigilant when exiting banks.