Man arrested for stealing mobile phone from a tourist and living in Cyprus illegally

Greek Cypriot police said it arrested a foreign national who stole a woman's mobile phone and for living illegally in Cyprus (south) without a resident permit.

Police said the incident happened at around 3:00 am on Wednesday Sept. 19 in Famagusta when the suspect, a 25-year old Congolese national ran away with the mobile phone of a woman who is a tourist in Cyprus.

Police in a statement on Thursday said the suspect was arrested on suspicion of theft and of living illegally in Cyprus following a complaint.

Speaking on the issue, the Famagusta district police spokesman Steve Theodoulou told the Cyprus News Agency that the man had been arrested after a female tourist had reported to the Ayia Napa police station that a man had “tricked her” into allowing him to steal her mobile phone.

She said he had approached her asking to borrow her mobile phone to call a friend, claiming he needed help. Theodoulou said the girl was “convinced” and handed him the phone, before he ran off.

After she complained to the Ayia Napa police station, the woman was able to point the man out, and police successfully chased the man down and arrested him.

He was found to still be in possession of the mobile phone, while further investigations determined that he was from the Congo and that he had been residing in Cyprus without a visa since 2022.

The man has already appeared in court, with his trial now set to begin on October 2. He will remain in custody until then.