Victims speak of their negligence

An Egyptian national, Mohammed Zaglool, told Khaleej Times that he had gone to Ras Al Khaimah Bank near Khan Sahib in Sharjah and when he withdrew money he was tricked by a man who robbed his cash. Police arrested one while his accomplice still at large.

Mohammed explained that he works as an accountant and he did all financial transactions for his company. Last May he went to the bank and withdrew Dh30,000 and was heading towards his car when suddenly heard an explosion.

When he got closer to his car, a man told him that there is oil under the right tyre of his car. “I placed my bag, cheque books, two mobiles and the envelope that contained the money on the back seat,” he said.

“I started to check the tyre and bent under the car. When I got up, I discovered that the cheques and other things were thrown on the ground and the money envelop was stolen,” he said.

He also said that he checked around but the man had vanished. He later lodged a complaint with the Sharjah Police. After his incident, he learnt that in the same area and on the same day around 10:30am, the thieves had stolen Dh82,000 from another victim. He said that he paid so much for his negligence. “I am still paying Dh2,000 installments from my salary every month.”

One of the victims who was attacked by six Afghans, who are currently standing trial in a Sharjah court for committing a series of robberies targeting bank clients, said that the culprit asked him to come out of his car to talk him but when he got out, another Afghan snatch the cash and vanished. An Asian woman who didn’t want to reveal her name said that she had helped the Dubai Police in the arrest of thieves who planned to target a bank customer when she saw them whispering to each other and roaming around suspiciously.

Basama, an Arab woman from Ajman, said that she withdrew Dh50,000 from a bank at Khalifa Road. When she reached her car she threw her handbag on the front passenger driver when an African approached her and asked her about some location.

“While I was trying to give directions, another one opened the front door of passenger seat and snatched the bag and vanished.”

The Ajman Police arrested the thieves in less than 24 hours and returned her money.

I am still paying Dh2,000 from my salary every month. I placed the money on the back seat of car.” Mohammed Zaglool, ATM robbery victim