Abdulrahman Al-Ali Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – An Ethiopian accused of robbing shoppers in an Old Jeddah market of their possessions has been arrested by Jeddah police, thanks to the quick thinking of his latest victim. The pickpocket melted into crowds around shop entrances and stole shoppers' wallets. He approached a Yemeni man in a crowded area and managed to get his wallet, before moving away quickly thinking that the victim had not noticed him. The man let the thief walk away but kept a close eye on him. He reported the thief to the police and kept officers posted about the thief's activities. When the officers arrived at the scene, the man showed them the location of the thief. The Ethiopian initially denied the victim's accusations but when the Yemeni told the officers that they would find a wallet with SR2,500 inside, the found the wallet with the exact amount. He was promptly arrested and taken to the police station. Police have arrested an Arab expatriate who ran an elaborate begging syndicate in Jeddah. The man provided the beggars he oversaw with food and housing in return for a share of their daily earnings. He chose the locations where they would beg and picked them up every day around midnight. Jeddah police spokesman First Lt. Nawaf Al-Bouq said a citizen had reported the head of the gang to the police because of his suspicious behavior and activities. He was caught red-handed while driving a group of beggars to their home. All 14 beggars were arrested as well. The head of the gang told investigators that he brought the beggars into the Kingdom illegally from their country and provided them with housing and food in return for a cut of their daily earnings. Al-Bouq said both citizens and expatriates play an important role in bringing the attention of police to suspicious or criminal activities.
