KUWAIT CITY, Feb 3: In a significant breakthrough, Kuwaiti authorities have apprehended a repeat offender who had been stealing food items from various grocery stores, using his 10-year-old child as a cover. The suspect, who was recently caught for the first time through biometric facial recognition technology, had committed at least 25 similar thefts, according to ongoing investigations by the Criminal Security Sector.

As per security sources, the suspect confessed to the crimes, stating that he resorted to stealing to sustain his narcotics addiction. He further admitted to selling the stolen goods at mobile grocery stores for reduced prices. However, he claimed that his son had no knowledge of his criminal activities and was unknowingly used as part of his deception.

The case came to light when a legal representative from a chain of grocery stores filed a complaint regarding a robbery at one of their outlets located at a gas station on Arabian Gulf Street, near Maidan Hawalli. Surveillance footage from December 10, 2024, showed the suspect placing stolen food items into a bag carried by the child accompanying him.

Hawalli detectives traced the suspect’s vehicle, which had been left near the store, and discovered that it was already under security surveillance in connection with a breach of trust case at Jleeb Police Station. Investigators then used modern biometric recognition technology to analyze the store's surveillance footage, which led to a match with a Kuwaiti citizen already known to law enforcement. A background check revealed that the suspect had a history of theft and drug-related offenses and was residing in the Dhahr area.

Authorities have since launched further investigations to uncover additional crimes committed by the suspect, reinforcing the role of advanced surveillance technology in tackling repeat offenders.