ABU DHABI // Five men suspected of stealing Dh1.8?million in cash and materials in Mafraq and Mussaffah have been arrested in a police operation dubbed Jerboas of the Dark.
The Pakistani gang, arrested on Friday, is thought to be responsible for raids on five companies in the industrial zones over the past two months.
On each occasion a group of mask-ed robbers armed with knives broke into a property late at night and tied up the security guards before cutting the surveillance cameras.
Then they ransacked the premises stealing cash, copper and diesel.
The private companies targeted by the gang were involved in the transport, contracting and key-making industries.
Col Dr Rashid Bourshid, chief of investigations at Abu Dhabi Police, said the five men arrested confessed and gave police a detailed account of how they carried out the raids.
They said the more heavily built among them attacked the guards, while the others disconnected the surveillance cameras.
All would then ransack the office drawers and cabinets.
The gang used a car for small robberies involving cash, and a larger vehicle when copper and barrels of diesel were the target.
Col Bourshid said the gang chose companies employing security guards who had little training and were easily intimidated.
They captured 11 guards in the five robberies, some of whom were able to untie themselves and call police, while others were still bound when found the next morning.
He said that the gang members were working day jobs in the country legally, and appeared to have inside information about the premises they hit.
Col Bourshid urged company owners to lock doors and windows after work and to be cautious of the information revealed to employees. The five, who are aged between 25 and 30, have been referred to the Public Prosecution.
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