Man arrested on his return to north Cyprus more than two years after stealing from an airport shop

A former employee of a business in north Cyprus who was alleged to have stolen mobile devises and cash from a sales point at Ercan Airport in 2022, was caught on his return to the country.

The suspect named only as Y.A., 25 who was determined to have stolen 2 tablets, a mobile phone, and cash from a sales point at Ercan Airport in 2022, was apprehended upon his return to the country.

Speaking in court, the police stated that the suspect, Y.A., who was a former employee of Sarpkan LTD, entered the KKTCell sales point located in the Ercan Airport waiting lounge at 4:01 am on July 8, 2022. Surveillance footage showed that he stole 2 Apple iPad 9 tablets, a Samsung A02 mobile phone from an unlocked module drawer, and cash totaling 19,660 TL, 500 USD, and 50 Euros from the cash register. Following a complaint, an investigation was initiated.

The officer informed the court that an arrest warrant was obtained against the suspect on July 8, 2022, from the Lefkoşa District Court. However, immigration checks revealed that the suspect, had left the country at 4:17 am on the same day.

The officer added that the suspect, who was declared wanted, was detected and arrested under the pending warrant as he was entering the country through Ercan Airport on December 31, 2024. 

During questioning, the suspect confessed to the crime and provided a voluntary statement, claiming that he had taken the items believing they would be given to him by the company. He also stated that his girlfriend, H.İ., was with him at the time.

The police determined during the investigation that the girlfriend, H.İ., was currently in Turkey. 

The police emphasized that the suspect's voluntary statement needed verification and that the investigation was ongoing. He requested that the suspect remain in police custody for one day as part of the investigation.