Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Hamza M Sengendo, Staff Reporter

Two security guards teamed up with two countrymen to steal Dhs1.4m electric items from two power plants. Prosecutors referred them to the Criminal Court on Wednesday.

The Asian guard, 25, and his workmate, 26, allegedly stole seven transformers, several electric cables and other electric items costing Dhs1, 434, 642 from two plants of a utilities authority in the Dubai Industrial City.

A countryman, 28, and a fugitive accomplice helped them accomplish the mission. Prosecutors accused an Asian scrap dealer, 28, of purchasing the items from the gang while aware they resulted from the heist. An Emirati engineer from the utilities authority narrated that the command and control room alerted them around 9am on Mar.17 that the power plants had malfunctioned. “I went and found the items stolen,” he said.

An Emirati lieutenant said the incident happened beside a glass and aluminum factory (which they also robbed of Dhs8.9 million items in a separate case). The power plants were situated in the factory’s premises. Police questioned the defendant over the robbery in question. He confessed and said he was guarding the factory and the plants when he allowed the fugitive accomplice and others to access the premises and rob.

He revealed they gave him a Dhs25, 000 reward. His workmate revealed he also allowed the fugitive and his cohorts enter and rob. They rewarded him with Dhs45, 000 of which he wired Dhs30, 000 to his homeland.

Further investigations showed their countryman took part in the heist. Police were tracing his whereabouts when they were informed about another similar raid that targeted power plants in Sharjah’s Al Madam area.

Members of the gang had targeted a sports club and decamped with electric cables. These robberies happened between November 2018 and March this year, according to records at the Jebel Ali Police Station. Police issued circulars and arrested the countryman. Police learnt they sold the items to the scrap dealer in Sharjah Industrial Area. He admitted to buying the items during night hours and away from his shop. Case continues.