Dubai, Oct 7 (Emirates 24x7) : It was like a scene straight out of the movies…an unsuspecting man walks with a box of cash and out jumps a group of masked men stopping him in his tracks. They manhandle him, splash chilli powder across his face and zips off with the box even before he could realise what struck him.

Dubai Police are investigating a daylight robbery case where the victim allege masked men robbed him of Dh1million in Dubai Investment Park area on Saturday as he was on his way to deposit the money at a nearby bank.

Anoop, the victim, is the employee of an Abu Dhabi based Indian company, which has operations at the Dubai Investment Park.

In fact, this is not a first-of-its-kind incident. Thieves have been stealing cash from people as they walk out with cash from banks and ATM centres.

Masked gang attacks

Two weeks ago, two men adorning black masks and gloves stormed into Ali Redha Exchange House in Dubai Motor City and made away with money threatening counter staff with a gun. However, Dubai Police arrested the duo with two hours as the alert security personnel at the exchange alerted cops immediately.

A few months ago, an employee of a construction material trading firm in Deira was followed by a gun-wielding gang. They did not get an opportunity to strike him until he entered his workplace. So they followed him into his office and attacked the trader after shooting the company owner. Dubai Police, again, arrested the suspects with few days.

There have been several cases reported in Sharjah in the recent past when thieves establish contacts with customers who walk out of banks and ATM centres with cash and divert their attention by conversing with them and rob them. The most common modus operandi is to strike them as unsuspecting clients enter into their cars. One of the gang members will approach the victim and lie to them about their vehicles’ flat tyres. When the victim gets off to check it out, the others from the network will steal the cash and flee.