A Surprising Theft in Northern Nicosia
In a rather unusual case of theft, a man faced a court appearance this past Tuesday, charged with the theft of copper coils from a water tank. The water tank in question was situated atop his father’s house in the Ortakoy suburb of northern Nicosia, where the man was residing at the time of the incident.
The theft, which occurred on March 15, was not a solitary act. The man reportedly had an accomplice, and together they managed to remove the copper coils from the water tank. Their actions did not go unnoticed, as a police investigation was swiftly launched, leading to their arrest on Sunday.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed by policewoman Ipek Uzum that although the stolen copper coils were valued at 5,000TL (approximately €144), the man confessed to selling them for a mere 400TL (around €11.50). The disparity in value between the theft and the sale price highlights a desperate act that resulted in minimal financial gain for the perpetrators.
The court’s response to this domestic pilfering was to release both the man and his accomplice on bail, each set at 10,000TL (€288). Additionally, they were required to sign a bond for 200,000TL (€5,751) and were given the mandate to report to a local police station on a weekly basis. This case underscores the lengths individuals may go to and the risks they are willing to take for relatively small financial rewards.
The community of Ortakoy and the broader region of northern Nicosia have been left to ponder the familial dynamics and personal circumstances that led to such an unexpected crime, right from the rooftop of one’s own family home.
