Pick-pocketing incidents on public buses cause concern

Khaleej Times has learnt that the number of pick-pocketing incidents have witnessed an increase in the past six months as more and more victims have been lodging complaints with the police and public transport officials. However, an official statement from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) maintains that pick-pocketing is very rare, citing an average of two cases a week.

But according to passengers they have often been swindled by pick-pockets while waiting at bus stations and while commuting in the buses.

‘The main problem is in Deira Gold Souq and Bur Dubai bus stations. I lost my wallet while I was on my way to work from Deira to Jumeirah. The bus was crowded and I had to stand all the way. When I got down I found my wallet was missing. I lost Dh450, bank cards and other valuables,’ said Nisar Muhammed, a resident of Bur Dubai.

‘I lodged a complaint with the police and I am still waiting for some information on it. My friend had also a similar experience. It was on the same bus route. He lost his wallet but, luckily it did not contain any money,’ he disclosed.

Sudheer Kumar, a worker in Al Quoz said ‘I too lost my wallet while returning to my accommodation from Bur Dubai. Pick pockets are operating mainly in crowded buses. Especially on Fridays and during holidays when buses are more crowded than usual.’

A statement issued by RTA said, ‘It's mainly standees who get pick-pocketed. The Dubai police should deal with the such public security matters on buses. So in case of pick-pocketing, it should be reported to the police and they will take necessary actions.’

The passengers can inform the driver of the bus if they detect the crime and he will inform the police. This way it can be sorted out easily, the statement added.

‘We may install cameras in the future in buses not for security reasons but for the driver to keep a note of people alighting and boarding the buses. We will be introducing more buses and we advise people to avoid boarding buses that are overcrowded,’ the statement advised.

Speaking to Khaleej Times an official from Dubai police confirmed receiving complaints about such incidents but stressed that they are ‘ individual and were rare cases.’

‘Pick-pocketing in public transport buses is not a phenomena in Dubai. The total number of such cases in between one and three a year in some Police stations, while some others receive none,’ the official said, attributing this to the fact that Dubai buses are not crowded.’

‘Pick-pocketing normally occurs in crowded places and such cases are often reported at Naif, Rifa'a and Bur Dubai Police stations which cover crowded areas with lots of bus stations and shopping venues,’ the official added.

He clarified that pick-pocketing is a crime committed by professional thieves who are mostly from African countries, and rarely by Arabs or Asians.

‘Usually pickpockets stand at bus stations and pretend to be helping their victims board or alight from a bus and in the process they pick-pocket them,’ he explained.