Nicosia kiosk robbers deterred by air freshener spray

TWO unidentified men who attempted to rob a kiosk on Friday night in Nicosia, escaped with only a mobile phone when the owner fought back by spraying them in the face with air freshener.

According to police, the 51-year-old owner of the kiosk was by himself when the men, wearing hoods and surgical gloves entered his premises and demanded the money from the till.

They then started knocking him about with the result that he lost his balance and fell to the ground.

While he was on the ground he managed to get hold of a bottle of air freshener and used it to ward off the thieves, who only managed to grab a mobile worth €600.

The first thief was described as being of normal build and was wearing a white hood with openings for the mouth and eyes, a white jacket and dark trousers. The second was tall, with a normal build and was wearing dark coloured jacket and trousers, along with a black hood.

Meanwhile in a separate incident on the same evening, two hooded robbers wearing gloves escaped with €400 from a kiosk in Palouriotissa.

Police sources said that on seeing the two men, the kiosk’s 26-year-old owner started to shout for help but the thieves were quick enough to grab €400 from the till.

They are described as being around 25 years old, of medium height and heavily built. The first thief was wearing a brown jacket, black tracksuit bottoms and white trainers with the second wearing a black jacket and dark trousers.

An attempted robbery took place on Friday afternoon at a pharmacy in Latsia, when two unknown men tried to steal money from the cash register.

According to police, one of the men immobilised the owner, while the other tried to open the till. She managed, however, to sound the alarm, which startled the thieves causing them to flee the scene with nothing.

Trying to defend herself, the owner had slipped and fell to the ground, injuring her hands and head.

The thieves are described as being around 25 years old, of normal build, with one of them wearing a black jacket and tracksuit bottoms, and the other a grey hooded sweatshirt.


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