Gang of thieves arrested in Sana’a [Archives:2006/1002/Local News]

SANA'A, Nov. 26 ) An official source at the capital's criminal investigations board announced the arrest last Tuesday of a large gang involved in various thefts.”The 10-person gang, ages 20 to 40, were divided into two groups and specialized in thefts at money exchange houses, commercial shops and opening new and modern treasuries,” noted Gen. Rizk Al-Jawfi, chairman of the capital's investigation board.

He added that the gang admitted robbing more than 150 money exchange and commercial shops and watttter pumps within the capital, Taiz, Hodeidah, Aden and Hadramout. Furthermore, they were involved in attacking on-duty security personnel.

The thieves committed their crimes when people were busy, such as at the magrib prayer time or during the Ramadan iftar meal, while conducting their criminal activities at 5 a.m. during other months. Furthermore, according to Al-Jawfi, they sometimes used women to carry out their tasks.

He concluded his remarks by affirming that the gang was arrested at approximately 5 a.m. Tuesday as they headed to do some robberies armed with tools used for such crimes, including cutters used on electrical locks.

The gang was led by a major criminal who is responsible for a string of thefts. Investigators hunted them for months until finally managing to arrest them.
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