A former UAE resident, Arsalan Hameed, experienced a shocking incident when his Rolex watch and cash were stolen from his bag during a flight. This theft has left him deeply distressed, according to local media reports.
Hameed, a Pakistani national currently residing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was traveling to Abu Dhabi to visit his family during the Eid holiday. Due to record rainfall disrupting UAE's flight operations, he faced numerous flight delays and cancellations. Exhausted, he eventually boarded a crowded flight to Doha.
Hameed, following his usual travel habit, placed his bag in the overhead compartment and quickly fell asleep. Upon landing, he hurriedly boarded another flight to Riyadh without thoroughly checking his belongings. He placed his bag in the overhead compartment again and went to sleep.
It was only upon returning home that he discovered the theft. His bag, containing a Rolex watch valued at AED 73,000, 3,000 Saudi Riyals, and 260 pounds in cash, had been emptied.
Hameed is not the only victim of in-flight theft. Similar incidents have been reported globally, prompting UAE authorities to caution air travelers to remain vigilant.
Muhammad Salman Lakhany, a Sharjah resident, also fell victim to theft. In May, during a short flight from Riyadh to Dubai, his card and USD 1,900 in cash were stolen. The thief used the card to make purchases totaling AED 18,803.
Khatri, a former flight attendant residing in the UAE, commented that petty theft on planes is uncommon due to stringent security checks. When such incidents occur, they are usually well-organized and premeditated.
These thefts typically happen on night flights when the cabin lights are dimmed, passengers are asleep, and crew members are resting. Thieves take advantage of this situation by opening overhead compartments and pretending to look for their misplaced items.
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