Four-member pickpocket gang gets one-year jail

Four Asian expatriate men have been sentenced to one year in jail and subsequent deportation for forming a gang that specialised in stealing from shoppers at markets.

Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported a Doha Court has convicted the pickpockets. The issue started when many persons filed complaints at the security department concerned that their wallets were stolen at the Central Market and other public places.

Accordingly, police tightened the monitoring efforts at such places to spot the culprits.

One day, one of the defendants was arrested at the Fish Market while attempting to steal the wallet of a shopper as another person saw him and grabbed him from the back. During interrogation, he admitted attempting to steal and told the authorities about his partners in the crime.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the four defendants committed a series of similar thefts. While one used to divert the attention of the victim, the other would steal the wallet from his pocket and give it to another who flees with it.

The defendant arrested first admitted that he stole a number of wallets, which contained money ranging from QR120 to QR8,100. Upon searching their accommodation, a number of the stolen items were found.

Courtesy: gulf-times.com