A man who allegedly stole bicycles parked at a Dubai Metro station told Dubai Criminal Court on Monday that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Prosecutors said that the 28-year-old Pakistani and another man had been using scissors and shaving blades to cut loose and steal bikes from the bicycle park at Al Ittihad Metro station, in Naif.

On May 9 a police officer patrolling the area with his colleague spotted the Pakistani and another man trying to cut the chains off a bicycle.

“We chased them but were only successful in arresting one while the other got away,” said the officer, 33.

He said police found the scissors and blades after searching the man and he admitted to stealing from the same place before. He also told police that he worked at a bicycle shop.

However, the Pakistani denied the theft charge in court on Monday, saying: “I saw a man running and I started running out of fear but I didn’t steal anything."

He awaits a verdict on July 27.