JEDDAH — Jeddah police's criminal investigation section has nabbed an African gang that targeted customers leaving banks with large quantities of cash. The four-member gang pulled off dozens of similar thefts in districts all over Jeddah. Police apprehended the gang after they received several complaints from citizens who all reported being robbed by a group of Africans. Police put locations frequently targetted by the gang under surveillance and once they were spotted lurking outside a bank, a large perimeter was created to prevent them from escaping. The gang, unaware that they were surrounded, attacked a man carrying a large envelope as he left the bank. Police officers then moved in and arrested the suspects before they could escape. All four members confessed to several robberies during interrogation. They said if they were unable to rob someone as he left a bank, members would follow the person until he got out of his car to buy something or pray at a mosque and break into the car and steal the money. 1st Lt. Nawaf Al-Booq, spokesman for Jeddah Police, warned citizens against withdrawing large sums of money from the bank and urged people to use security guards to accompany them if they had to withdraw a large amount.
