Lorry thieves arrested

AL AIN // Police have arrested two men for allegedly stealing heavy vehicles to sell the parts for cash. The first suspect, identified as A Sharif, 40, is accused of stealing four vehicles including a bus, a heavy lorry and a lorry carrying a water tank that were parked unattended while awaiting maintenance work. One of the vehicles was said to have been stolen at midday. No one noticed the thefts, which probably appeared to others as normal maintenance work, police said in a statement.

The second man arrested in connection with the thefts has been identified as MK, an investor. Both suspects are Bengali nationals. Police said MK admitted his involvement during an interrogation, and that he said he had also committed similar thefts. The owner of a scrap parts shop in Sharjah has also been arrested, with the co-operation of Sharjah police. He admitted to paying Dh8,000 (US$2,178) for a bus without asking for documents to prove ownership.

The police found a crane they say was used to transport the stolen bus to an industrial area of Sharjah. The crane operator, who has not been charged, said he was paid Dh1,200 to transport the bus, police added. The police seized the bus and impounded it before it was dismantled for scrap parts. It was later returned to its rightful owner: Mohammed Salam, 52, from Pakistan. The investigation began after several complaints of heavy vehicle theft were lodged earlier this month.

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