POLICE BUST RUSSIAN GANG BELIEVED TO HAVE STOLEN GOLD WORTH KD 1M

Arab Times

July 10 2011
Kuwait English Daily

KUWAIT CITY, July 10: Officials of the Criminal Evidence Department
of the Interior Ministry arrested a six-member Russian gang which
specialized in stealing jewelry and valuables from grand villas and
jewelry shops in the country. The gang, which includes two women,
has reportedly stolen gold worth over KD 1 million over the last four
years. Its modus operandi included visiting Kuwait on visit visas
during summers, breaking into the villas of the rich, and escaping
out of the country with the loot. The head of the gang, however,
hasn’t been arrested yet.

A security source said officials noticed that thefts at villas in
Capital and Hawalli governorates had increased and that the thieves
were using advanced ways to open safes. He said money and gold
worth KD 200,000 was stolen over the last two months. Securitymen
then intensified investigations and managed to arrest a Russian
national of Armenian origin who was involved in a case in 2007. During
interrogations, he admitted that he was part of a gang that specialized
in stealing jewelry and revealed that he comes to Kuwait along with
the others every year on a commercial visit visa sponsored by a hotel.

He also confessed that his wife was on her way to the airport with the
stolen gold and forged passports. Securitymen arrested the woman and
during interrogation, the couple gave details of four other members
of their gang, including a woman. All of them are believed to be
of Armenian origin. They were involved in a theft case a couple of
years ago. The members said they smuggle the jewelry out the country
to the seventh accused. Securitymen are looking for him.