Asian held for Dhs4 million saffron theft

In an ambush on Monday, the Dubai Police arrested a man on Monday who stole saffron from shops in the Naif area in Dubai. His thefts were conducted during a period of one year and the value of the stolen saffron was estimated at Dhs4 million, according to a CID official. Director of the CID of the Dubai Police Brigadier Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri said that the thief took advantage of his knowledge about saffron to steal big amounts of it as he had worked in its trade for a long period in Iran. He would disguise himself as a porter to steal saffron from shops. Al Mansouri said that the suspect started stealing saffron from February last year. He committed 11 thefts, but failed in three others. The suspect used a small crowbar to open a shop and steal saffron and then put it on a pushcart, he added. He used to take it to his house and then start looking for a buyer with the help of another person, who was also arrested red-handed. According to Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Humaid Al Merri, the police received a number of complaints about theft of saffron from shops in Naif. Through investigations, the police came to know that the saffron was stolen once it reached the shops in the night or during the break. The doors of the shops were opened by a lever. A CID team managed to identify the suspect who was looking for a trader to sell him the stolen saffron. An undercover policeman communicated with the suspect. It took 20 days when finally the team succeeded in luring the suspect into the trap. The suspect was caught red-handed while handing over the saffron to the police official. He confessed to the thefts and guided the police to the person who helped him. The police then arrested the second suspect, AKH, an Afghan national, who also confessed to his complicity. The suspects were consequently referred to the Public Prosecution.