Four Ethiopian Held Over KD 50,000 Cash Theft in Kuwait

What stopped me mid-scroll on this one is the amount: KD 50,000, gone from a parked car within minutes of someone walking out of a bank. Here is what I found out.

Police in Hawally say a group allegedly sat outside a bank in Salmiya, watched a Kuwaiti citizen withdraw a large sum of cash, then followed him to his car. Once he’d gone, they allegedly smashed a window, grabbed the money and drove off.

It’s the kind of detail that makes you think twice next time you’re carrying cash out of a bank in Kuwait, even for a few minutes.

What the police say happened

According to the Criminal Investigation Department, the group allegedly watched the bank, waited for the victim to come out with a large amount of cash, and followed his vehicle through Salmiya. When he left the car unattended, they allegedly broke a window, took the cash and fled.

Detectives moved fast. One suspect was arrested within 24 hours of the incident and reportedly confessed, naming his alleged accomplices to investigators. That lead apparently cracked the case open, and the remaining three suspects were tracked down and arrested soon after.

All four suspects, along with the recovered KD 50,000, have been referred to the competent authorities for legal action. As with any case still before the courts, the allegations against them haven’t yet been proven, and it’ll be up to prosecutors and judges to decide what happens next.

So why target someone right after a bank visit?

This isn’t the first time Kuwait has seen cases built around large cash withdrawals being watched and followed. Criminals who do this are usually banking on two things: that a sudden, large cash withdrawal is rare enough to be worth the risk, and that most people don’t expect to be followed the moment they step out of a bank.

It also explains why the money was never actually taken from the victim directly. The group apparently waited until he was away from his car, which, frankly, made it an easier and lower-risk target than approaching him in person.

[EDITOR NOTE: a short line here on whether you or someone you know has noticed suspicious loitering near Salmiya banks would add real value]

What this means if you’re in Kuwait

This matters whether you’re a citizen or an expat, because large cash transactions happen here more often than in many other countries, and plenty of people still prefer carrying cash to transferring money digitally.

If you do need to withdraw or carry a significant amount of cash, it’s worth being a little more careful: vary your route home, avoid leaving cash visible in the car even briefly, and consider asking the bank about secure transfer or escort options for larger sums.

It’s also a reminder that cash left in a parked vehicle, even for a minute, is a risk. A smashed window takes seconds.

If you’re moving cash that’s close to or above KD 3,000, remember that you’re required to declare it if you’re crossing a border with it, though that rule is separate from this incident and applies mainly to travel.

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