24.10.2026 14:10
It has emerged that at a chain supermarket in Ankara Sincan, as a theft prevention measure, customers' bags were taped shut at the entrance and placed in locked lockers. Following citizens' reports, municipal inspectors identified the practice through camera footage. The municipality sent a notification to the business, stating that the practice violated fundamental rights and freedoms, and notified the Ministry of Trade. After the notification, the supermarket ended the practice.
In Ankara's Sincan district, the practice at a chain supermarket of taping customers' bags upon entry as an anti-theft measure and placing them in lockers at the store entrance has ended following a notice from the municipality.
Shoppers at the chain supermarket operating in the district reported to the municipality, claiming that upon entry their bags were taped and placed in locked lockers and that this was done as a measure against theft. Following complaints submitted through WhatsApp reporting lines, municipal law enforcement teams launched an investigation. In the investigation, it was determined through camera footage that the complaints were true and that security guards at the store entrance took customers' bags, taped them, and placed them in locked lockers in the cloakroom area.
NOTICE FROM THE MUNICIPALITY: CONTRARY TO FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
Thereupon, the municipality sent a notice to the business. In the notice, it was stated that the practice constituted a violation of fundamental rights and freedoms such as personal liberty and security, consumer legislation, and the right to property, and that administrative action would be taken if the practice continued. The municipality also notified the Ministry of Trade about the matter. After the notice, the practice carried out at the supermarket as an anti-theft measure was ended.
WE WILL NOT ALLOW OUR CITIZENS TO BE HUMILIATED
Sincan Municipality General Coordinator İsmail Can Ocak said, "After the notice, when we visited the stores of the relevant chain supermarket, we saw that this practice is no longer being carried out. We stand by all our merchants who do what is right and side with our citizens. We also thank the businesses that abandoned their wrong practices and listened to our demands. It made us proud that this move resulted in the good of our citizens. To date, we have not allowed any practice that humiliates our citizens in Sincan, and, God willing, we will not allow it from now on either."
Stating that they also do not want businesses to suffer, but that the way to achieve this is not to victimize citizens, Ocak said, "Technology and security tools have developed. The way is not to tape bags or handbags or to treat citizens as second-class people. To fight theft, we are ready to sit down with our district governor, our chief of police, and our market managers and determine new methods with common sense and contribute. As long as our citizens are not embarrassed."