The Turkish Cypriot police have initiated legal action against a 69-year-old man who stole meat from a supermarket in Morphou on New Year’s Eve, before returning it the following day saying “it stinks”, and receiving a refund.

The man reportedly visited the supermarket on New Year’s Eve and stole lamb meat and a bottle of wine, with a total value of 949.67TL (€26.06).

The following day, he returned to the same supermarket, telling staff the meat “stinks” and demanding a refund. The supermarket staff obliged and gave him 809.68TL (€22.22).

After staff were made aware of what had happened, they notified the police, who found evidence linking the man to the crime.

He then visited the same supermarket on Monday and stole “various food items” worth a total of 645.92TL (€17.73), before being caught.

The police’s investigation into the matter is ongoing.