A car thief was arrested in Riyadh, and the person who posted the video is being pursued
Riyadh police announced in an official statement that they had arrested a citizen who was involved in stealing a vehicle that was running and driving it recklessly, endangering the lives of others, in an incident documented by circulating videos.
Details of the incident and the legal procedures
The media spokesperson for Riyadh Police explained that security follow-up led to the identification and arrest of the perpetrator. Details indicate that the suspect took advantage of the vehicle being left running to steal it. Not content with the theft, he also drove against traffic on a public road, posing a direct threat to the safety of pedestrians and other road users. The suspect has been detained, all necessary legal procedures have been taken against him, and he has been referred to the Public Prosecution for further investigation and the application of the legally prescribed penalties.
Legal action against the person who documented and published the video
In a related development, police confirmed that the individual who documented the incident and posted the video footage on social media platforms is being apprehended. This action is based on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Anti-Cybercrime Law, which prohibits the production, preparation, transmission, or storage of anything that could harm public order. Security authorities consistently emphasize that documenting crimes should be for the purpose of providing evidence to the relevant authorities through official channels (such as the "Kulluna Amn" app), and not for public dissemination, which could obstruct the course of justice or violate privacy.
Context of security warnings about vehicle theft
This incident underscores the repeated warnings issued by Saudi Public Security about the importance of not leaving vehicles running when exiting them, even for very short periods (such as shopping at grocery stores or gas stations). Neglecting to turn off the engine and lock the vehicle is the primary reason that facilitates such thefts, which are often linked to other crimes like reckless driving or serious traffic accidents.
Security efforts to enhance public safety
The swift arrest of the perpetrator reflects the efficiency of the security system in the Riyadh region and its ability to respond quickly to reports and information gathered through technology. Security and traffic authorities work in close coordination to maintain order on public roads and curb reckless behaviors such as driving against traffic, which is classified as a very serious traffic violation under Saudi traffic law due to the fatal accidents and loss of life and property it causes.
