Car stereo thief in court

A MAN suspected of stealing car stereo equipment from a shop tried to escape arrest by pushing his car in the streets of Nicosia after the owner of the shop snatched his keys, a Nicosia court heard yesterday.

The man, who was remanded in custody for six days, was caught after trying to sell part of the equipment to another car stereo outlet.

The case was reported to police last Saturday by the owner, who said £1,651 worth of car stereos, speakers, amplifiers and tools had been stolen from his shop on Kennedy Avenue.

The shop had been broken into through the front door, police said.

Both police and the complainant informed the owners of similar outlets to keep a look out for the specific equipment.

On Monday afternoon, the suspect visited such a shop on Iphigenias Street in Acropolis and asked the owner if he could acquire a certain system, but instead of paying cash he suggested an exchange with equipment he had in his car.

When the shop owner saw the equipment, he realised it was stolen and immediately notified the complainant. Before setting off for the shop the complainant called the police.

He arrived there and identified the equipment and also recognised the suspect who had been his customer in the past.

When he saw the owner, the suspect tried to escape but owner managed to snatch the keys from the ignition.

The desperate suspect got out of the car and started pushing it, but was intercepted by the police a few metres down the road.

Police said the suspect claimed the material was given to him by another person, whose name he did not know.

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