One Held in Dubai Heist
DUBAI: The Dubai police arrested one of the suspects involved in a recent robbery at Al Razouki International Exchange in Karama from Dubai International Airport as he tried to flee to his home country.
The suspect was arrested hours after the daring robbery was reported to the police. The police have launched a manhunt to arrest the rest of the accused, all of whom are also believed to be Eastern Europeans, Khaleej Times reported.
Employees of the money exchange reportedly said that the masked men burst into the premises and held up Tasers and devices that looked like guns.
Before the staff could react, the robbers sprayed tear gas on three female employees – two Indians and one Filipina. As the victims cried out in pain and started rubbing their eyes furiously, the robbers attacked three customers with Taser guns, the report said.
They jumped over the counter and made their way inside, where they attacked another employee. After robbing Dh700,000, the robbers fled the office minutes after they entered it. They used a BMW car to get away, eyewitnesses were quoted as saying.
An exchange official notified the police and within minutes, security patrols, paramedics and forensic officials arrived at the spot, said the Dubai-based news portal.
The police reportedly reviewed the CCTV camera footages and identified one of the suspects. Investigations revealed that the Eastern European entered the country on a visit visa. He took the car from a Jebel Ali-based company.
As the robbers were fleeing, the car broke down in the Rafaa area. The robbers set it on fire, and took a taxi to an unknown place. The fire was put out later by an Emirati, the news portal reported, reported Khaleej Times.
The robbers chose the perfect time to enter the money exchange – around 4.30pm, when business is usually quiet, the report said.