Dubai Police recover stolen car from middle of the sea

A former UAE resident is heaping praises on the Dubai Police, who recovered his stolen car from the middle of the sea and brought it back to the country. The police intercepted the ship before it reached its destination.

Recounting the case, American citizen Brian Sidle said he put his car up for sale after losing his job as a manager in Dubai amid the Covid-19 pandemic. He was in desperate need of cash to pay off his loans, rent, school fees and bills.

“I was notified of my termination on March 31. My employer did not pay my March salary and other expenses, for which I had to pay on their behalf. After a month of search, it became apparent that I was not going to find a job quickly,” the father of three told Khaleej Times.

Shortly after putting his car on sale, Brian was contacted by an ‘interested buyer’. Reeling under the pressure of unemployment and the strain of financial dues, and in “a moment of foolishness”, Brian agreed to give his car against a cheque after the ‘buyer’ produced an ID, a driving licence and a cheque book.

“He paid me with a cheque. That was on June 2,” Brian said.

A few days later, the cheque bounced and after failing to sort the matter out with the ‘buyer’, Brian reported the incident to the Dubai Police.

Brian then returned to Texas in the US. “I learned later that the police had tracked down the ring of car thieves.

“Apparently, my car was put in a container, loaded on a boat, and was on its way to be shipped to Greece. Just in the nick of time, they (the police) discovered where it was and were able to prevent it from being off-loaded in Greece.

“Gone on June 2, the car was recovered about two months later. The (police’s) anti-fraud team pursued a difficult investigation. Honestly, I am truly amazed with what they were able to accomplish.

“I don’t have many details of what they did or how they did it. Thank you, (Dubai Police), for your tireless work and dedication, taking the initiative to continue the investigation and the pursuit even after learning that the car was no longer in the country,” Brian said.

mary@khaleejtimes.com