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Farce Surrounds Patrol Car Theft: 25-Year-Old Claims He Was 'Distressed' – Officer Suspended for Leaving Keys in Ignition

Published March 24, 2026, 09:16
Farce Surrounds Patrol Car Theft: 25-Year-Old Claims He Was 'Distressed' – Officer Suspended for Leaving Keys in Ignition

The theft of a patrol car in Aradippou has taken a farcical turn, as the 25-year-old perpetrator claimed he stole the vehicle because he was distressed and had no driver. The perpetrator, who has a history of drug-related offenses, was arrested in Livadia after fleeing with the patrol car and abandoning it in Larnaca. According to his testimony, the perpetrator went to the SOPAZ area in Aradippou, got out of his car to walk due to personal problems, and saw the patrol car with its lights flashing. He found no one inside and drove it towards Larnaca, where he abandoned it when he realized he was being pursued by another vehicle. The incident occurred at a checkpoint for foot-and-mouth disease, where the officer responsible for the patrol car was outside the vehicle to retrieve personal belongings from his private car. He left the keys in the ignition, giving the perpetrator the opportunity to steal it. The officer who left the keys in the patrol car has been suspended pending an investigation into the circumstances of the theft and to determine if he committed disciplinary offenses. The case has drawn serious criticism of the Police and has raised questions about the security of their vehicles.