MAKKAH — Residents of "Allusoos" (Thieves) neighborhood said they are content with the condition of the neighborhood but asked for widening the entrance to the area. The neighborhood is one of Makkah's oldest areas and has acquired its name from time gone by when it was inhabited by thieves and bandits. They used to wait for pilgrims to cross the area and rob them of their belongings. The neighborhood accommodates Al-Otaibyah market, which is also one of Makkah's most famous shopping districts. Currently, the neighborhood is witnessing traffic jams due to its narrow streets. It is full of old houses and is crowded with inhabitants of different nationalities, where Pakistanis account for 40 percent of the population. Al-Otaibyah market includes shops that sell clothes, accessories, gold and jewelry, and women's accessories, and witnesses huge crowds of shoppers, especially during holidays. Mohammad Al-Hejairi, a resident, said they are not ashamed of the neighborhood's name and previously resisted an attempt to change it. He added that they are satisfied with the neighborhood's condition and their only demand is to widen the entrance to the area. The narrow entrance causes daily traffic jams that cause students and employees to be late. Other residents said burglaries are on the rise by expatriates who ride motorcycles, snatch women's handbags and disappear into the narrow alleys of the area. They asked for an increased presence of security patrols to deal with this problem.
