Istanbul, March 24 – A cafe in Istanbul’s Sarıyer district became the scene of an unusual robbery when the estranged husband of the owner, Esra Poyraz T. (38), broke in and stole a gold bracelet. Oğuzhan T. (38), who is in the process of divorcing his wife and has been living separately for 11 months, was later caught by police and claimed his actions were a ‘surprise’.
Cafe Robbery Uncovered by Friend’s Call
The incident occurred on Friday, March 20, at approximately 3:15 AM in the Rumeli Hisarı neighborhood. Esra Poyraz T. had left her business for the night and returned home. Later, she received a call from her friend, Nihal D., who asked if she had forgotten to lock her cafe door. Upon returning to her business, Esra Poyraz T. discovered that a 20-gram, 22-carat gold bracelet, valued at approximately 140,000 Turkish Lira, was missing from her cash register.
Surveillance Footage Reveals Estranged Husband
Reviewing the security camera footage, Esra Poyraz T. was shocked to identify the intruder as her estranged husband, Oğuzhan T. A restraining order was already in place against him. She immediately filed a complaint with the police.
Police Apprehend Suspect, He Claims ‘Surprise’
Sarıyer Patrol Teams promptly launched an investigation and apprehended Oğuzhan T. shortly after. During his initial statement to the police, Oğuzhan T. stated, "I went to the shop to check if the flowers I sent had arrived. I have the key anyway, I made a surprise for my wife."
Oğuzhan T. was charged with ‘violating a restraining order’ and ‘theft from a workplace’. He was subsequently referred to the courthouse and released under judicial control. It was also revealed that Oğuzhan T. has a history of 8 criminal offenses.
Wife Disputes ‘Surprise’ Claim, Emphasizes Sole Ownership
In her statement to the police, Esra Poyraz T. clarified, "I saw that a 22-carat, 20-gram bracelet, worth approximately 140,000 Turkish Lira, was missing from the open cash register. Oğuzhan T. told me he came to the business at night to drop off my old belongings from our shared home and entered with a key. We have been living in separate homes for about 11 months, and our divorce process is ongoing. This business is entirely mine; there is no partnership."
Esra Poyraz T. Speaks Out: "Being a Woman in This Country is Difficult"
Following the incident, Esra Poyraz T. made a public statement, expressing her distress. "Being a woman in this country is difficult. Divorcing as a woman is even more difficult. Last night, my shop was forcibly entered. We have a material loss, but more than that, we have a moral loss. I have been at the police station since 4 AM. We have camera footage. We filed a complaint. Everything is being done, but the state of the shop, with fingerprints, is like this. Like a thief, I also gave my fingerprints. I apologize. I await your support. As I said, young people, please be careful about the people you let into your lives. I always say this now: when you get married, sign the exit papers too, even marry that way. Because this person can become the bully of your life, even if he is the father of your children. So please learn from this."
This incident highlights the complexities and challenges faced by individuals, particularly women, navigating difficult personal situations in Istanbul.
