Thief caught after hiding in mall ventilation for 3 days following gold heist

A man accused of stealing 3 kilograms of gold and ₺100,000 ($2,781.1) from a jewelry store inside a shopping mall in Adana was caught after attempting to flee through the building’s ventilation system, where he had been hiding for three days, authorities said.

The incident occurred on the night of Feb. 2 in the Yuregir district, according to local police. The suspect allegedly entered the mall through a ventilation shaft before breaking into the jewelry store and making off with the stolen goods.

When the store’s alarm was triggered, officers from the Adana Police Department’s Public Security Branch responded to the scene. However, an initial search of the mall failed to locate the suspect.

Authorities later heard noises coming from the ventilation system and suspected the thief was still inside. Throughout the following day, police conducted a search of the ventilation shafts using a cadaver dog trained to detect human presence.

The suspect, who had remained hidden in the ventilation space for three days, eventually attempted to escape during the night. However, officers from the Theft and Pickpocketing Bureau, who had secured the area, apprehended him as he climbed down from the ventilation system.