People caught begging in the capital use a number of methods to manipulate the emotions of residents and take advantage of their generosity, Abu Dhabi Police warned on Saturday.
“The common factor between all these beggars is that they have no real need to beg. Instead, they use this immoral practice to extort money from generous residents. As a result, they harm the UAE’s reputation, especially if they don the national dress when begging, or use a sacred religious occasion to get money from people,” said Colonel Dr Rashid Mohammad Borshid, head of the Criminal Investigation Department at Abu Dhabi Police.
The official added the UAE has a number of charitable organisations that will come to the aid of people in real financial difficulty, but that most people caught begging cannot prove such a need and simply use an easier route to obtain money from unsuspecting residents.
For example, one particular beggar who was apprehended by Abu Dhabi Police was found to be visiting the UAE each year in the same period before Ramadan. He would spend the month in a rented car asking shoppers and people fasting for money so that he could complete his pilgrimage to Makkah.
