Dubai Police arrest men boarding plane after diamond necklace theft

Jewellery recovered after theft from shop in luxury hotel

One of the men arrested on charges of stealing a diamond necklace at a hotel arrives in Dubai before the theft that took place on July 3. All photos: Dubai Police

Another accused arrives in the emirate.

CCTV images shared by police show the accused leaving the site after the robbery.

The scene of the crime was a jewellery shop inside a top hotel.

A suspect puts his hand through a hole that he allegedly cut in a glass cabinet.

Officers said the men changed their clothes at a building site, before and after the crime, in a bid to avoid being identified on surveillance cameras.

The suspects leaving a hotel in the Deira area after the alleged theft. They were arrested as they boarded a plane at Dubai Airport.

The stolen necklace.

Mugshots of the two men after they were arrested. Photo: Dubai Police

Two men have been arrested over the theft of a diamond necklace in a night-time raid at a luxury hotel in Dubai.

Police said the pair, from Eastern Europe, wore wigs and face masks and used a glass cutter during the the theft at the hotel's jewellery shop.

They were stopped by officials as they tried to board a flight out of Dubai airport only hours later.

The theft on Sunday, July 3, was made public by officials on Wednesday. Police did not disclose the name of the hotel but said it was in Al Sufouh area, near The Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina.

The theft took place at 1.30am when the hotel was quiet. Officers said there was evidence that one of the suspects had scoped out potential targets in 2020.

He was said to have visited several jewellery shops, including the scene of the alleged crime. He was found to have left the country and returned this month with his alleged accomplice.

Both men flew into the city on the same flight but avoided contact with each other, police said. They met at a hotel in Deira to prepare for the break-in, police said.

CCTV footage reportedly showed the two men wearing shorts and T-shirts during the day, but police said they changed their clothes at a building site some distance from the jewellers.

Police traced the men to Dubai International Airport later that morning.

The suspects have been referred to public prosecutors and the investigation continues.