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Muscat: A gang of robbers who stole gold worth OMR1.4million from jewellers across Muscat have been arrested, according to the Royal Oman Police (ROP).
The gang used blowtorches to gain access to stores before raiding them in night-time break-ins.
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A worker at one of the targeted jewellery stores in Muttrah Souq – confirmed they had lost OMR1.2million in the raid.
Those arrested confessed they smelted the gold in a Muscat apartment and were planning to smuggle it out of the country.
Jewellery stores in Muttrah and Seeb were targeted by the gang. One store in Muttrah, owned by an Iranian, had its security gates blowtorched off during the raid.
Those arrested are of Asian nationality, the ROP said.
Now jewellers in Muttrah Souq are considering more security patrols. Many of them told Times of Oman they have no insurance as the premiums are too high.
A worker at one of the shops targeted by the gang, said that the theft happened on August 4 in Muttrah gold market in the early hours of the morning.
“Some criminals broke open the main door and robbed most of the jewellery that was in the store. They closed down the main door before leaving. We discovered that in the morning when we opened the door,” he said.
The shop was closed for 27 days following the robbery. “It’s a big loss. The total amount of stolen jewellery value is almost one million and two hundreds Omani rials,” said the shop worker.
He added that the gold market needs more security measures. “We invest here millions of rials but the security level is quite low. Such markets have more security around the world,” said the shop worker.
He added that there were CCTV cameras installed in the shop. “We handed everything to the police,” he said.
Following the robbery, the shop increased its security in terms of increasing the number of CCTV cameras and doors. “But we don’t have any insurance as this may cost us more,” he said.
Another jewellery shop owner in Muttrah Souq also said something should be done regarding security in the market.
“Such markets should be watched by night shift security. All the crimes take place after midnight. Shops here are ready even to pay in order to get their shop watched at night,” said the shop owner.
He added that the jewellery shops in Muttrah are not insured. “Such insurance will cost the shops a lot of money and therefore the profits of months will be paid in one insurance instalment,” said the shop owner.
The official Royal Oman Police report states: “A gang of thieves were arrested after stealing OMR1.4 million worth of jewellery from shops in Muttrah and Seeb.
“The Directorate General of Inquiries and Investigations in Muscat Governorate were able to arrest a gang of thieves of Asian nationality for stealing jewellery estimated to be worth OMR 1.4 millions from several ornament shops in Muttrah and Muscat.
“Police stations received reports of unidentified individuals breaking in to the stores by cutting the chain which holds the metal gate with a blowtorch.
“The thieves entered the stores and stole gold jewellery.
“An investigation team was formed by the police and promptly arrested the suspects and seized the stolen jewellery.
“Upon questioning, the suspects confessed to their crimes as well as admitted to robbing another jewellery store in Seeb, hence storing the gold in their residence with the aim of smuggling it out of the Sultanate.”
“We need more patrolling and CCTV cameras installed in various locations of the Souq,” an Omani shop owner told the Times of Oman.
He added that the Muttrah Souq is the biggest gold souq in the country and it deserves better security. Shabib, another jewellery shop owner, argued that the security cameras are currently installed by the owners themselves and they are not controlled by the ROP.
“Surveillance cameras cost me OMR500 to OMR600 depending on the quality and they are not efficient since they are not linked to the ROP,” he said, adding further that the range of the camera is very narrow.
He stressed that Muttrah Souq and the gold souq need higher security measures and day and night patrolling.
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