Expat gang rob Dh183,000 from Dubai exchange branch, arrested

Dubai - The heist was planned in a Sharjah flat.

Five Nigerians stood trial on Thursday at the Dubai Court of First Instance for robbing Dh183,070 from a money exchange office.
The court was told that the robbery took place on December 18, 2018, in Dubai Investment Park - where five masked men, aged between 25 and 35, wearing sunglasses entered the office carrying 'weapons' including knives, cleaver and electric cables.
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They had monitored the office a day before. The incident was reported at Jebel Ali police station.
The heist was planned in a flat in Sharjah.
One of the accomplices had driven them to the exchange office.
They were charged with forced entry and robbery at night with sharp weapons.
According to a police report, officers went to the area to investigate the robbery.
"We spotted three African men walking around suspiciously, and realised they were the accused based on the descriptions we had.
"We chased them and caught one of them with a money bag, while his accomplices managed to flee, but were caught later by other officers," the report added.
Recounting the robbery, an Egyptian accountant said that customers - present at the exchange branch - ran out after seeing the three masked men barging inside with knives and a cleaver.
"The staff panicked and the thieves managed to rob Dh183,070 before they fled the scene.
"Dubai Police immediately arrived at the branch after I turned on the police alarm system. I learned later that three more suspects were waiting outside during the robbery".
A ruling be made on June 27.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai