A recent operation led by a team of undercover officers resulted in the apprehension of a four-member gang involved in stealing valuables from visitors at the Dubai Mall. This specialized unit of plainclothes Dubai police officers was deployed in response to a surge in pickpocketing incidents in highly populated areas, particularly in tourist hotspots such as the Dubai Mall.
The officers were assigned to blend in with the crowd and keep a vigilant eye on the situation to safeguard the visitors. The gang, comprising three men from Azerbaijan, aged 28, 45, and 54, along with a 23-year-old man from Tajikistan, was apprehended in the act on March 6, 2024. Court records reveal that the gang had meticulously orchestrated their thefts. On the day of their arrest, they targeted the dancing fountain area of the Dubai Mall, capitalizing on the crowd's attention being diverted. They feigned interest in the fountain show while one member kept an eye on the target and two others distracted her, enabling the fourth member to snatch her mobile phone from her bag. They then scattered in different directions to evade the victim, but their crime was immediately uncovered, leading to their arrest. However, the stolen phone was disposed of prior to their capture.
During the trial at the Dubai Criminal Court, it was determined that the defendants had formed a criminal group with the intent to steal from individuals in bustling areas such as large shopping centers. "In response to a recent spike in pickpocketing incidents in crowded locations like the Dubai Mall, covert security teams were formed," testified a police officer in court. "The undercover officers were able to observe and apprehend the defendants on the day of the theft. Their actions were also captured on surveillance cameras," the officer added. The footage clearly showed the men coordinating to distract the victim and steal her phone before dispersing to evade detection. The defendants denied the charges both during the investigation and in court sessions conducted remotely. Nonetheless, the court found them guilty, sentencing each to one month in prison and ordering their deportation.
