DAMMAM: During the past weeks, residents of Eastern Dammam reported thefts of loudspeakers, audio equipment and accessories from 15 mosques, officials said. The thieves have not been identified, but the crimes were committed in short periods of time, which indicates that the same people moved from one mosque to another and carried out their crimes, police said. Residents in the areas where the crimes took place told Okaz/Saudi Gazette they were angry about the repeated thefts. A number of citizens agreed that these thefts are rampant during the summer vacation, when people are enjoying their holidays outside the region, and while people are busy at work during the day. “We reported the thefts to Northern Dammam (Al-Shimalia) Police and we hope they arrest the culprits,” said Abu Misfir Al-Qahtani, who lives near a mosque that was burglarized. “At the same time, this phenomenon has spread during the recent past period to several mosques and we don't rule out their stealing costlier items as long as there are no guardians to watch these youngsters who stay awake the whole night on the streets and are a nuisance to people.” Sheikh Khalid Al-Sheikh, supervisor of Al-Muttairi Mosque, said the facility has been burglarized several times and last week, thieves stole items worth more than SR8,000. In the wake of the thefts, an old door there was replaced with an iron door, he added. Al-Sheikh said the burglaries were reported to the police, who are still following up on the case. Lt. Col. Ziyad Al-Riqaiti, spokesman for the Eastern Province Police, said cases of thefts from mosques are very simple, compared to other kinds of thefts. In most of these cases, the perpetrators are children or teenagers who do not realize the sanctity and importance of these places, he said, adding that at times, the perpetrator carries out the crime under the influence of drugs.
