ISTANBUL — Police arrested a 32‑year‑old Moldovan suspect on November 7 after he attempted to leave Turkey via Sabiha Gökçen Airport, a day after breaking into a jewelry store in the Orhantepe neighborhood of Kartal. The robbery, which took place after midnight on November 4, was carried out by copying the remote‑control code of the shop’s shutter system, allowing the intruder to open the gate and enter the premises.

Security‑camera footage released by the Istanbul Police Department shows the suspect disabling the automatic shutters and quickly seizing items from the display case. According to the store owner, the thief took 200 rings, three gold earrings and three gold bracelets. Subsequent investigation revealed that the 200 rings were not real gold but inexpensive plastic replicas used by the shop as demonstration pieces. The genuine items – the earrings and bracelets – were valued at roughly 150,000 Turkish lira.

Following the theft, the Hırsızlık Bureau (Robbery Bureau) traced the suspect’s movements using the store’s surveillance video and began a city‑wide manhunt. Investigators discovered that the suspect had purchased an airline ticket and was planning to board a flight from Sabiha Gökçen the next day. Airport security, alerted by police, detained him before he could board the aircraft.

During interrogation, authorities learned that the man entered Turkey on October 7 as a tourist. Police confirmed that he arrived with a legitimate visa and had no prior criminal record in Turkey. After the robbery, he remained in Istanbul, likely intending to use the stolen valuables to fund his departure.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has now formally charged the suspect with robbery, illegal entry, and attempted illegal departure from the Republic of Turkey. He has been remanded to prison pending trial.

The case highlights vulnerabilities in small‑business security systems, particularly the ease with which remote‑control codes for shutters can be duplicated. Local business associations are urging shop owners to upgrade to encrypted access controls and to install additional alarm mechanisms.

The incident also underscores the importance of rapid inter‑agency cooperation. The swift sharing of CCTV footage between the jewelry store, the Istanbul Police, and airport security enabled authorities to apprehend the suspect before he could escape Turkey.

The store owner expressed relief that the stolen items were largely non‑valuable replicas, noting that the loss was limited to the three gold earrings, three bracelets and the associated disruption. He thanked law‑enforcement agencies for their prompt response and indicated plans to review and reinforce the shop’s security protocols.

The investigation remains open for any possible accomplices, and police continue to examine whether the stolen demo rings were part of a broader scheme targeting multiple jewelry outlets in the city.

Source: https://www.haberturk.com/gundem/son-dakika-haber-kuyumcudan-200-tane-yuzuk-caldi-gercek-cok-baska-cikti-3925573