A 33-year-old man, wearing a mask and holding an iron crowbar, was arrested on his own at a pharmacy, early today in Ayia Napa, while he is also suspected of other cases involving attempted burglary and burglary of shops and other premises, since October 2022 until today.
As reported by Steve Theodoulou, the press representative of the Famagusta Police Department, "between October 2022 and January 2023, various burglaries of shops and thefts of various goods were observed in the area of Ayia Napa. Specifically, on October 19, 2022, the owner of a sports clothing store in Ayia Napa reported to the Police that there was an attempted burglary of her property. The movements of the perpetrator were recorded by the closed circuit video surveillance of the store."
He added that "on December 10, a restaurant owner also in Ayia Napa reported that his property was broken into and a sum of money was stolen. The attacker's movements were also recorded by the restaurant's closed-circuit video surveillance system."
He also noted that "on December 11, a pharmacy owner in Ayia Napa reported that an attempt was made to break into her pharmacy and the movements of the perpetrator were also recorded by the closed circuit video surveillance of the pharmacy.
Also on December 14th, a kiosk owner in Ayia Napa reported that his kiosk was broken into and an amount of money and a quantity of tobacco products were stolen, while the closed circuit video surveillance of the premises recorded the movements of the perpetrator.
According to Mr. Theodoulou, "the Police received the closed circuit video surveillance of all the properties whose owners reported cases and from tests it was found that the perpetrator was the same person".
Moreover, "around 5 am on Tuesday, January 3, the alarm went off in a pharmacy in Ayia Napa. Members of the Ayia Napa Police Station went to the scene, where they found an unknown man inside the pharmacy, who was wearing a hat and gloves, while his face was covered with a mask and he was holding an iron crowbar and a shoulder bag.
He added that "as soon as the unknown person noticed the policemen, he tried to escape, however the members of the Police managed to stop him inside the building. In his attempt to escape, the unknown man resisted and pushed the members of the Police, however, he was able to be stopped and arrested, while he was then handed over to the investigators of the TAE Famagusta who identified him as the person recorded by the closed circuit video surveillance of of properties complained of".
From tests carried out "it was established that it was a man, aged 33 from Palestine, in whose possession various burglary tools, the sum of 80 euros, various pharmaceutical products and a folding knife were found. The 33-year-old was arrested for an unprovoked crime, was taken into custody and today the TAE of Famagusta secured an arrest warrant for all the cases".
According to Mr. Theodoulou, "the 33-year-old is suspected of cases involving "attempted burglary, shop burglaries and theft, covering a person during the night with the intention of committing a felony, resisting lawful arrest, common assault, possession of burglary tools against during the night, malicious damage and stabbing, offenses which were committed in the province of Famagusta between October 2022 and January 2023".
He also noted that "at first glance, the 33-year-old denies any involvement in the cases, maintains that he is homeless and does not cooperate with the Police. The suspect also faces the offenses of illegal entry and illegal stay in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus since it was not identified from where and how he entered Cyprus".
The man is expected to be brought before the District Court of Famagusta tomorrow for the issuance of an arrest warrant.
The case is being investigated by the Famagusta Police Department.
Source: KYPE