24.10.2026 14:20
In the Sincan district of Ankara, the municipality took action after some markets taped customers' bags and asked them to leave their personal belongings in lockers. Following intense complaints from citizens, warnings were issued to the businesses. In the latest inspections, it was determined that the practices in question had been removed.
In Ankara's Sincan district, the requirement applied at some supermarkets to tape bags and leave personal belongings in lockers caused a public backlash. Acting upon increasing complaints, Sincan Municipality sent notices to the relevant businesses instructing them to end the practice. During the municipality's recent visits, it was observed that the supermarkets had abandoned these practices.
MUNICIPALITY TOOK ACTION FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS
Sincan Municipality General Coordinator İsmail Can Ocak stated that citizens filed numerous complaints through social media, WhatsApp reporting lines, and the Solution Center. Ocak, who reported that the complaints were also conveyed to Mayor Murat Ercan, said that the necessary warnings were issued to the businesses.
Ocak said, "We also issued the necessary notices to all supermarkets carrying out such practices, regardless of their name, nature, or number of letters. We said, 'Immediately end this practice that humiliates our citizens and treats them as guilty in advance.' Then we forwarded our information notes and official correspondence to the relevant ministries and official institutions."
SUPERMARKETS ABANDONED THE PRACTICE
Ocak, noting that they revisited the businesses after the warnings, announced that the practices of taping bags and leaving belongings in lockers had ended.
Ocak said, "When we visited the businesses regarding the latest situation, we saw that this practice is no longer being carried out. We stand by all our tradespeople who do what is right and side with our citizens. We also thank the businesses that abandoned their wrong practice and heeded our requests."
"SECURITY MEASURES SHOULD NOT VICTIMIZE CITIZENS"
Emphasizing that they do not want supermarkets to suffer financial losses due to theft, Ocak stated that security measures should be implemented in a way that does not disturb customers or create grievances.