Kuwait Police Capture Man Who Posed as Cop to Steal from Expats

01/03/2025

Kuwait Police Capture Man Who Posed as Cop to Steal from Expats

KUWAIT CITY, Mar 1: A security source revealed that the Criminal Security Sector is compiling cases involving expatriates being robbed by an individual who impersonates a detective, gains access to their homes, and steals their money and valuables. This action follows the arrest of a 28-year-old suspect, by Hawally detectives. The accused confessed to targeting expatriates, citing unemployment and financial need as his motives.

Although the suspect claimed to have an expatriate accomplice who provided information about potential victims, investigative authorities confirmed this was false. Instead, it was determined that the accused randomly targeted expatriates’ residences, threatened them with deportation, and stole cash, jewelry, watches, mobile phones, and other sellable items. The breakthrough in the case came after two expatriates, aged 62 and 59, filed a report at the Hawally police station on February 12. They stated that an unidentified individual entered their home in Hawally’s Block 7, posing as a detective, and stole 1,400 dinars from one of them.

Security personnel utilized surveillance and artificial intelligence cameras to track down the suspect’s residence, leading to his arrest. During a lineup, the victims positively identified him as the perpetrator. Under interrogation, the suspect admitted to the crime, stating he acted out of financial desperation and had no ties to security personnel. He also confessed to spending the stolen money. The accused initially alleged that an expatriate of the same nationality as the victims assisted him in the robberies. However, investigations revealed that the alleged accomplice had left Kuwait over a month ago on a personal trip. Further scrutiny confirmed that the suspect had fabricated the existence of a partner and had been operating alone.

Authorities discovered that the suspect had a prior criminal record for theft and impersonating security personnel. He reportedly exploited his fake identity as a detective to intimidate and rob expatriates. In light of the incident, security officials emphasized that all detectives are required to display their identification during inspections. Those on foot must wear visible IDs indicating their workplace, job title, and military rank. Expatriates, in particular, are urged to request identification from anyone claiming to be a detective, as this is their right and a crucial step in preventing similar crimes. This case underscores the importance of vigilance and adherence to security protocols to protect residents from such fraudulent activities