A gang of five youths who used ropes and chains to tie up shop and store owners in Khamis Mushayt before making off with their goods has been detained by the police. The gang had been successful in stealing large amounts of money and quantities of prepaid telephone cards. Another gang of thieves, whose members were all illegal overstayers, has been caught by police in the northern Asir town of Balasmar. Authorities had received numerous reports of house burglary from residents before the police moved in, and a police spokesman said the gang had confessed to its crimes.
