Operation against thieves using emergency lights: Criminal network dismantled
The Istanbul Police Department has dismantled a 16-member burglary ring. The network's methods were worthy of a movie plot. The burglary ring, which committed thefts in 24 homes on the Anatolian side and produced 15 fake license plates, made plans via WhatsApp groups they set up before heading out to steal. The gang members, who referred to the police as 'Zubi' in their group chats, were found to use female thieves during daytime burglaries to avoid drawing attention. It was also revealed that the thieves, who used umbrellas to hide their faces from security cameras, utilized vehicles equipped with emergency lights and sirens. Despite all the plans and precautions they took to avoid capture, their efforts were in vain. Of the 16 thieves detained in an operation by the Burglary and Pickpocketing Bureau, 5 have been arrested, while 11 will be referred to the courthouse following their interrogations.
Müslim Sarıyar
Müslim SARIYAR/12punto.com.tr
Teams from the Istanbul Provincial Police Department's Public Security Branch, Burglary and Pickpocketing Bureau, have dismantled a burglary ring worthy of a movie plot. The 16-member burglary ring committed thefts in 24 homes on the Anatolian side. The thieves, who also engaged in forgery of official documents, produced fake license plates.
Following complaints, the Burglary and Pickpocketing Bureau teams launched an investigation and examined dozens of security camera recordings from the locations where the thefts occurred.
THEY USED UMBRELLAS AS SHIELDS AND COVERED THEIR FACES WITH JACKETS, BUT...
When leaving the scene after the incidents, the thieves used umbrellas they brought with them as shields to avoid showing their faces to security cameras. They even covered their faces with jackets. However, they could not escape the police.
The teams, who meticulously examined the camera footage and conducted fingerprint analysis at the crime scenes, carried out simultaneous operations at the addresses of the suspects whose identities were determined. Initially, 5 people caught on different dates were arrested and sent to prison after their interrogations.
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS AT 13 ADDRESSES IN 6 DISTRICTS
The other 11 members of the burglary ring, whose identities were identified, were detained in simultaneous operations conducted at 13 addresses in the Sancaktepe, Gaziosmanpaşa, Fatih, Ümraniye, Ataşehir, Sultanbeyli, and Maltepe districts.
THEY SET UP A WHATSAPP GROUP AND REMOVED UNSUCCESSFUL THIEVES
It was learned that the burglary ring set up a WhatsApp group before their actions. It was revealed that the gang members used codes in their WhatsApp conversations, referring to the police as 'zubi'. Furthermore, it was learned that the ring leader removed those who were unsuccessful in the thefts from the group.
THEY TOOK WOMEN WITH THEM TO AVOID ATTENTION
It was revealed that the burglary ring also took female thieves with them for daytime burglaries to avoid drawing attention.
THEY USED VEHICLES WITH EMERGENCY LIGHTS
The gang members, who took female thieves with them to avoid attention, were also found to have installed emergency lights and sirens on the vehicles for which they had produced fake license plates.