Ten members of an Arab gang of pickpockets were arrested from downtown area on Monday. The arrests came after police from Jeddah's Criminal Investigations Department (CID) prepared a trap to nab gang members specializing in robbing people at shopping centers. The gang was preparing to carry out its activities during the holy month of Ramadan by exploiting overcrowded malls especially during the night. The gang members who were hiding out in a ramshackle house were kept under close surveillance for the last couple of days. A working team of the Financial Crimes Combat Unit intensified monitoring the gang's activities by deploying its elements at different locations and setting traps opposite large mosques and markets and inside several crowded hospitals. The gang moved to a well-known mosque and a member caused an old man to trip while coming out of the mosque. But the old man stopped and went back into the mosque and came out accompanied by his young son. At this point, the pickpockets left the place without achieving anything and returned to their hideout. About ten of them gathered there and directives were sent to the unit's team to arrest them. The security men found a number of wallets, mobile phone sets and large bags that were ready to be shipped outside the Kingdom. Lieutenant Nawaf Al-Bouq, spokesman of Jeddah Police, said the gangsters are still being investigated. – Okaz __
