1 held in Dubai exchange heist as he attempts to flee

Date

12/14/2015 5:04:16 PM

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Five masked robbers chose the perfect time to burst into a money exchange in Dubai - around 4.30pm when business is usually quiet. They used Tasers tear gas guns and "black devices" that looked like guns to terrorise the staff and customers inside and fled with Dh700000.

The robbers attacked at least three customers and four employees at Al Razouki International Exchange in Karama.

Brazenrobberiesin UAE > April 2007: A group of armed robbers from the Pink Panther gang brazenly drove two Audi A8s into the Wafi Mall smashed the front window of the House of Graff and escaped with jewellery and watches worth approximately Dh14.7 million.

> August 2014: A gang of five Nigerians used a toy gun to threaten the employees of a money exchange in Ajman before fleeing with Dh275000 in various foreign currencies. They were arrested a week later.

> March 2015: A Filipina who wore an abaya as a disguise entered a money exchange office in Abu Dhabi and tried to rob it using what later turned out to be a toy gun. She was overpowered by an employee and held until the police arrived. The woman was jailed for seven years.

The police arrested one of the suspects from the Dubai International Airport as he attempted to flee to his home country.

Employees of the money exchange told Khaleej Times that the masked men burst into the premises and held up Tasers and devices that looked like guns. Before the staff could react the robbers sprayed tear gas on three female employees - two Indians and one Filipina. As the victims cried out in pain and started rubbing their eyes furiously the robbers attacked three customers with Taser guns.

They jumped over the counter and made their way inside where they attacked another employee. They robbed Dh700000 and put it inside a black bag. They fled the office with the cash minutes after they entered it. They used a BMW car to get away eyewitnesses said.

An exchange official notified the police and within minutes security patrols paramedics and forensic officials arrived at the spot.

The police reviewed the CCTV camera footages and identified one of the suspects. Investigations revealed that the Eastern European entered the country on a visit visa. He took the car from a Jebel Ali-based company.

As the robbers were fleeing the car broke down in the Rafaa area. The robbers set it on fire and took a taxi to an unknown place. The fire was put out later by an Emirati.

The suspect was arrested hours after the daring robbery was reported to the police. The police have launched a manhunt to arrest the rest of the robbers all of whom are also believed to be Eastern Europeans.

Amira Agarib

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