In a highly unusual crime that has captured attention, a masked thief in central Turkey orchestrated a bizarre gold heist using a stolen forklift and a donkey as his getaway vehicle. The incident unfolded in the Melikgazi district of Kayseri on February 9, where CCTV footage documented the entire audacious operation.
Forklift Smash-and-Grab
The suspect, later identified as 26-year-old Mehmet C., was captured on camera driving a stolen forklift directly into a jewellery shop's frontage. He repeatedly rammed the metal security shutters until they buckled and gave way, creating a forced entry. Wearing a beanie and a surgical mask to conceal his identity, he then climbed into the store through the damaged opening.
Calm Looting and Unusual Escape
Inside the shop, the footage shows Mehmet moving purposefully towards the display areas. He knocked over a counter and reached into the showcases, calmly placing gold jewellery into his pocket. After securing the loot, further CCTV recordings reveal the man exiting the scene and fleeing the area on a donkey, which had been left standing outside the shop during the theft. Police confirmed that he had initially arrived in the area on the animal before utilising the forklift for the break-in.
Police Investigation and Recovery
Officers were dispatched to the scene after the alarm was triggered and promptly launched an investigation. Teams from the Kayseri Provincial Police Department's Public Order Branch identified Mehmet C. through meticulous fieldwork and comprehensive camera analysis. Approximately 150 grams of gold jewellery was reported stolen during the brazen break-in.
Suspect's Detailed Confession
In his statement to police, Mehmet provided a detailed account of the events. He explained that he left home at night, informing his father he was travelling to Mersin. He rode his own donkey to the Ildem area and had been consuming alcohol. When he wanted to buy more alcohol but found a liquor shop closed, he noticed a forklift with exposed wires near the steering column. He started the vehicle by touching the wires together.
Mehmet stated that while intending to go to another shop, he saw the jewellery store and contemplated his financial difficulties. He then used the forklift to lift the shutter, entered the shop, and took what he described as 'a handful' of gold. After fleeing on foot to a nearby stream, he mounted his donkey and returned home. He hid the jewellery in a bag buried near the entrance of a hayloft.
Justice Served
Police successfully recovered the 150 grams of gold buried in the ground and returned it to the shop owner. Mehmet C. was taken into custody and, after standard procedures at the police station, was remanded in custody by a court and subsequently sent to prison. This peculiar case highlights both the lengths some will go for criminal gain and the effectiveness of modern police work in solving even the most unconventional crimes.
