DUBAI // Two men accused of stealing more than Dh1 million worth of smartphones and electronics hit four vehicles during a police car chase before escaping, a court heard on Thursday.
The two unemployed Afghans SM, 23, and 22-year-old BZ were part of a gang or armed robbers, police said, though the duo pleaded their innocence at Dubai Criminal Court on Thursday.
They are charged with armed robbery after they allegedly used two bolt cutters and a screwdriver on April 17 last year to break into an electronics company and steal 1,977 electronic devices valued at Dh1.37m.
Indian company owner RH, 39, said: “After the midnight of April 16 last year, I made sure to lock all doors and head home. But at nearly 4am I received a call from police informing me that some men had broken into my company and robbed devices such as Samsung, HTC and Apple.”
He added that police checked surveillance cameras and they had very clear footage of the robbers and the getaway car they used.
“Police managed to arrest them and to find the car they used and 1,774 devices were found in the car, valued at Dh1.158m, but the rest of the stolen devices were never found,” said the owner.
Policeman AS, 48, said that after receiving the robbery report that night, he spotted the robbers’ car with the stolen goods visible inside.
“I ordered the driver to stop but he did not and we had to chase him, during which he crashed into four cars then stopped and the driver as well as another man ran out of it and we could not arrest them,” said the policeman.
SM was later arrested in his home in Ras Al Khaimah. BZ was arrested in Naif, Deira, while the rest of the men involved were not arrested.
In court on Thursday they denied an armed robbery charge and they await a verdict on April 30.
salamir@thenational.ae
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
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Black Panther
Dir: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Five stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
MATCH INFO
Burnley 0
Man City 3
Raheem Sterling 35', 49'
Ferran Torres 65'
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Sweet%20Tooth
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Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
