Gang arrested for ‘tying up and robbing woman in Abu Dhabi home’

ABU DHABI // Seven Asian men suspected of breaking into a woman’s home, tying her up at knifepoint and stealing cash, mobile phones and jewellery have been arrested by police.

Colonel Ojeil Al Junaibi, director of the Western Region Police Directorate, said the men were wearing face masks when they were arrested in a white Toyota Innova.

Police said they found knives, clubs, iron rods and handcuffs in the vehicle. They also found cash in different currencies, five iPhones, four BlackBerry phones, three Samsung Galaxy phones, as well as watches and necklaces.

Col Al Junaibi said the men confessed to their crime during interrogation.

The first suspect is said to have driven the other men to the woman’s house in Al Ghayathi and back to their place of residence in Baraka.

Three of the men confessed to entering the victim’s home, threatening the woman with a knife, ransacking the home and taking the items, police said.

Two of the other men allegedly told police that they entered the victim’s house after she was tied up.

Police said the last suspect confessed that he guided the gang to the victim’s home and issued tourist visas to five of the other suspects.

The victim told police that the gang demanded that she paid Dh20,000 within 15 days if she wanted her items back.