1 hour ago
Last Updated:February 15, 2026, 10:16 IST
During questioning, the man admitted he had left home that night planning to travel towards Mersin and rode his donkey near the Ildem area.
Screengrab of the video showing the thief escaping on donkey
Police in central Türkiye have arrested a 26-year-old man accused of carrying out an unusual robbery in which a jewellery shop was broken into using a forklift and the suspect later rode away on a donkey.
The theft happened on February 9 in the Ildem Cumhuriyet neighbourhood of Kayseri. According to authorities, the masked suspect smashed the shop’s shutters and windows before entering and stealing around 150 grams of gold.
Security camera footage captured the man forcing open the metal shutters with the forklift, taking jewellery from a display counter and leaving the area. In another clip, he is seen escaping through the streets on a donkey.
Arrest And Recovery
Police traced the accused, identified as M.C., through CCTV footage and detained him shortly afterwards. A court later ordered his arrest, according to a report by Türkiye Today.
Officers also recovered the stolen items—including rings, necklaces, and earrings—from a hiding place and returned them to the shop owner.
What The Suspect Told Police
During questioning, the man admitted he was the person seen in the video. He said he had left home that night planning to travel towards Mersin and rode his donkey near the Ildem area.
He told investigators he had been drinking and was looking for more alcohol but could not find an open liquor shop. While walking, he noticed a parked forklift with exposed wires and managed to start it by connecting them, reported the outlet.
He said he drove around and later stopped in front of the jewellery shop, thinking about his financial problems. Using the machine, he lifted the shutters and entered the dark store, taking gold from a display case before leaving on foot.
According to his statement, he then returned to a stream, mounted his donkey and went back to a family barn. He hid the jewellery in a bag beneath a mud brick near the hay storage entrance.
Investigation
Police from the Kayseri Provincial Police Department’s Public Order Branch identified him through camera analysis and field investigation. After questioning, he was sent to court, where a judge ordered his detention.
According to the officials cited by the outlet, the case attracted attention because of the unusual escape, but the investigation followed routine procedure and all stolen property was recovered.
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First Published:
February 15, 2026, 10:05 IST
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