Two separate car theft cases – one in Nicosia and another in Larnaca – have prompted a strong warning from police after it was revealed that valuables and even keys had been left inside the parked vehicles.

In Nicosia, a woman reported her car stolen at around 10.40pm on Sunday night. The vehicle, worth €15,000, had been left outside a kiosk in Engomi with the keys still in the ignition. The Nicosia crime investigation department is now looking into the case. On the same night in Larnaca, a man told officers at Oroklini police station that €4,100 in cash had been stolen from his car, along with bank cheques and a shoulder bag. His vehicle was parked at a restaurant car park in Oroklini between 9pm and midnight. Police said the money had been hidden under the driver’s seat, while another bag was on the back seat. Thieves appear to have smashed the driver’s window and a rear passenger window to gain access to the vehicle. The incident is being investigated by Oroklini police.

Authorities are urging the public to take better care of their vehicles and belongings, warning that leaving keys, cash or valuables inside – even briefly – can invite crime. They stressed that drivers should always lock their vehicles, remove keys from the ignition, and close all windows, even during short stops.

Police also reminded vehicle owners that failing to take basic security steps can be considered negligence, especially if their actions allow someone else to take and drive the vehicle illegally.