Thieves jailed after returning to Dubai crime scene to pick up dropped phone

The trio, in a Chevrolet Camaro, returned to the villa they just burgled and apologied to the owner. They returned the stolen goods but asked if they could get the iPhone back.

DUBAI // Three thieves who were arrested when they returned to the scene of their crime after one of them dropped his phone have been jailed for six months each.

Two Emiratis, AA, 22, and MY, 24, as well as Pakistani LA, 20, were on Thursday convicted at Dubai Criminal Court of armed robbery and issuing threats, which they denied in August.

The men broke into a villa in Umm Suqeim early on May 21 and stole speakers and a laptop.

The householder, E G, 39, from New Zealand, found a masked intruder on the first floor of his home at about 5.30am.

On the ground floor he found two more men, one of whom was holding a hammer. Prosecutors say the three threatened E G before they escaped.

“I found an iPhone 6 then called police,” said E G. Shortly after, a black Chevrolet Camaro pulled up in front of his home.

A neighbour told the court he was getting ready for his morning exercise when he saw E G outside.

“A car stopped and a man came out. He started talking to me about sports and jogging, then he became tense and spoke to E G and confessed that it was him who had robbed him,” said the neighbour.

“He apologised and said he stole because of his need for money. He returned the stolen items to E G and asked for the phone he dropped, and pleaded with E G not to call police.”

The Pakistani will be deported after serving his jail term.