6-member gang of Russian Armenians detained in Kuwait

July 11, 2011 - 19:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Officials of the Criminal Evidence Department of the Interior Ministry arrested a six-member Russian gang which specialized in stealing jewellery and valuables from grand villas and jewellery shops in the country. The gang, which includes two women, has reportedly stolen gold worth over KD 1 million over the last four years. Its modus operandi included visiting Kuwait on visit visas during summers, breaking into the villas of the rich, and escaping out of the country with the loot. The head of the gang, however, hasn’t been arrested yet.

A security source said officials noticed that thefts at villas in Capital and Hawalli governorates had increased and that the thieves were using advanced ways to open safes. He said money and gold worth KD 200,000 was stolen over the last two months. Securitymen then intensified investigations and managed to arrest a Russian national of Armenian origin who was involved in a case in 2007. During interrogations, he admitted that he was part of a gang that specialized in stealing jewellery and revealed that he comes to Kuwait along with the others every year on a commercial visit visa sponsored by a hotel.

He also confessed that his wife was on her way to the airport with the stolen gold and forged passports. Securitymen arrested the woman and during interrogation, the couple gave details of four other members of their gang, including a woman. All of them are believed to be of Armenian origin. They were involved in a theft case a couple of years ago. The members said they smuggle the jewellery out the country to the seventh accused. Securitymen are looking for him, Arab Times reported.