The Saudi Embassy in Turkey stressed to visiting Saudi nationals the need to maintain vigilance towards mobsters looking to steal passports and other valuable belongings, especially when moving around crowded public places.
According to well-informed reports, provided by sources that requested anonymity and obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, at least 165 Saudi tourists had their passports stolen in a number of Turkish cities considered as a top tourist destination.
Travel agencies, however, did point out that not as much Saudis are visiting Turkey nowadays when compared to previous records. Unrestrained crime is believed to have triggered the huge drop in numbers of Saudi tourists in 2019 compared to 2018.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the embassy called on Saudi citizens not to hesitate to call the embassy in Ankara or the consulate in Istanbul in case of any emergency.
The 165 Saudi passports, according to unnamed sources, were stolen in three Turkish tourist spots in the past four months.
Sources revealed that the tourists were targeted in the Istanbul neighborhoods of Taksim, Ortakoy and Besiktas. The tourists said the thefts took place while they were shopping or at restaurants.
Charge d’Affaires at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul Meshary Al-Thyaby told Asharq Al-Awsat that the embassy and consulate were available around the clock to receive complaints from Saudi nationals.
Embassy officials, as pledged by the official press release, would be dispatched to the scene of any reported theft.
“The thefts and pick-pocketing are not limited to Saudi tourists, but we have heard similar cases among Arab tourists,” Al-Thyaby stated.
