The Dubai Police have started questioning some eye-witnesses and others, not as yet identified, in connection with Sunday’s shocking armed robbery at Wafi City Mall where, Graff, a prominent jewellery store had its glass display windows smashed by masked men who decamped with over Dh54 million worth of diamonds and other valuables.

The daring Hollywood-style heist, involving a gang of four armed men, took place at the popular Mall shortly after 9.30pm, in front of many astonished visitors. Interestingly, one of the eyewirnesses displayed the presence of mind to record the crime-in-action on his mobile phone video facility.

Given the speed, timing, and planned precision with which the whole operation was mounted, it appears that the crime involved a group of professional criminals, Lieutenant-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief, told Khaleej Times yesterday.

The whole smash-and-grab job, he added, was over within less than two minutes. Both the Audi cars, one white and another black, used in the crime were stolen, Lt-Gen. Dhahi confirmed.

The cars which have been traced by the police investigators, were found burnt and abandoned in the posh Zabeel area in downtown Dubai. One of the cars had a Dubai registration plate, while the other was registered in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.

The police investigators have also lifted fingerprints from the scene of the crime and are now carefully examining the Mall’s internal security video footage in an attempt to get some clues and leads, so as to quickly crack the case — the first of its kind in the country.



Meanwhile, mobile phone video footage by eyewitnesses have been rapidly doing the rounds in the Emirates since late Sunday and have also been posted on several web sites.

Some shots have clearly captured the masked men in action and fleeing from the crime scene. “The white Audi was initially parked close to the shop’s main entrance on the ground floor. Seconds later, the black car entered the area, reversed, and suddenly rammed into the polished glass panes of the store. After ensuring their cars were parked perfectly for a quick exit, three men with what appeared to be guns and rifles and hammers rushed out while one man waited inside the white car,” an eyewitness recalled. “Both cars had tinted windows and all the four men, one of whom remained seated at the wheel, wore Balaclava masks. They fled from the scene the moment the three men involved in the actual looting returned with two full bags,” he added.

The black Audi raced out of the Mall first, followed closely by the other car.

A Wafi shopkeeper said, “The crime, like in any Hollywood action thriller, was over in seconds... before anybody on the spot could do anything.” Sally Meech, Wafi City’s public relations manager, said: “The mall management is closely assisting the police in the investigation. We have handed over the security video footage to the police sleuths.”

Last year, another store in Wafi city, Ahmed Siddique, that sells branded luxury watches was robbed. In that case, the Dubai Police busted the gang quickly.