Urged the public to follow awareness instructions

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Saturday, September 27th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

According to Lt. Colonel Nasser Suleiman Al Maskari, Head of the Operations Department at the General Directorate of Central Operations, the Abu Dhabi Police Operations Room observed multiple professional plans to rob bank customers after they have finished their financial transactions, through a well-advised analytical study. Lt. Colonel Al Maskari warned bank customers against surprise thefts; noting that unprotected money attracts weak-minded people. He also stressed the need to maintain their safety and protect their money by following the police instructions.

Elaborating on the issue, Lt. Colonel Al Maskari pointed out that security surveillance camera operators have recently noticed a number of sequential events followed by opportunistic bank thieves to take unsuspecting bank customers by surprise and flee the scene to unknown destinations. He said, “Thieves lie in wait and observe their victims upon leaving the bank until they get into their car. At this point, the thief’s accomplice would knock on the car window pointing out a fake flaw in the car, from an oil leak to a flat tire, prompting the driver to exit their vehicle to examine the damage. This gives the suspect a window of opportunity to seize the cash or the handbag from the passenger seat inside the vehicle and to flee the scene quietly.”

Furthermore, Lt. Colonel Al Maskari urged community members to take immediate note of the police’s instructions and advice regarding the monitored methods observed by the police and to be vigilant to maintain their own safety and to preserve their money against theft. He stressed the importance   of community members’ cooperation with police efforts in order to provide the best means of prevention and protection. He also urged community members not to hesitate to report any suspicious activities they may encounter while they are near banks, near ATM machines, or if they notice that they are being followed. Lt. Colonel Al Maskari noted that the study provided examples of the different methods used in thefts; the thieves’ features; plausible times for thefts, planning methods and task distribution between thieves; as well as escape plans and means. He explained that the operations room has monitored and analyzed these results in light of the different notifications they recently received, and what has been observed through surveillance cameras.

Adding further, he said, “According to the study, the gang members are a group of at least 3 young men, of Asian features, aged between 25 and 35 years, and wearing shirts and pants. They usually carry out their robberies between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm”.

"According to the study, the gang members distribute tasks among them based on an elaborate plan to carry out their thefts. The gang is generally made up of thee members (the accomplice or deceiver, the main thief and the spotter who keeps watch). "The ‘deceiver’ knocks on the vehicle’s window, while the ‘thief’ opens the vehicle’s door and snatches the money after the victim steps out of the car. The ‘spotter’ pretends to speak on the mobile phone while keeping a lookout from afar. They all walk in one direction towards the nearest alley behind nearby buildings to avoid security cameras. They avoid using any transportation mean, but sometimes use a bicycle to prowl around banks and choose their victims,” he continued. The Head of the Operations Department at Abu Dhabi Police also noted that according to the analytical study, there is a possible mutual coordination between the gang and other individuals who prowl at the targeted banks.

Lt. Colonel Al Maskari referred to a previous robbery during which the gang members were lying in wait in front of a bank at the Corniche Road, when they suddenly headed on foot to another bank located on Hamdan Street. "This proves that the gang members received information by phone about a bank customer leaving the bank while carrying cash. It also shows prior and professional plans to target bank clients," he stated.

To avoid falling prey to bank thieves, Lt. Colonel Al Maskari reiterated his call to banking clients to abide by police instructions to secure their money before leaving the bank, and to keep it out of sight of strangers or opportunistic bank thieves who may be nearby waiting for an opportunity to steal their money.

He also urged individuals to handle their cash cautiously and to store it in a safe place; and not to leave money inside the car when they park it in a public place. He also called upon community members to not hesitate to notify the Operations Room on 999 to report any suspicious person or vehicle following them.  Moreover, he stated, “Women or elderly people should not be left alone when withdrawing large amounts of money, in order to maintain their safety and preserve their money against theft.”

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Abu Dhabi Police had previously launched two media campaigns to protect bank clients in cooperation with the Security Media Department at the General Secretariat of the Office of H.H Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. These campaigns warned bank clients against fraudulent means used in surprise thefts. Moreover, Abu Dhabi Police constantly reports news about clampdown campaigns against such thieves and the preemptive measures to curtail such crimes, with a view to acquaint the public with safety  measures to be followed  when withdrawing or transferring cash, and the optimal ways to secure their money.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook and Twitter

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com

Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/12241/en