Aesthetic Reptiles: The Gang That Couldn't Slither Straight

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 27 March 2019)


             Reptile slithering (left) and cowering (right).

In Istanbul, a gang of thieves, who called themselves "The Reptiles"
because they crawled and slithered along the floors of their target
workplaces to avoid security cameras, has been busted.  Simultaneous
police raids in Zeytinburnu, Esenler, Güngören and Bağcılar nabbed
7 gang members.

Up to now, the gang had netted 3.5 million TL (about $800,000) by
cracking safes and lived the high life, with luxury cars and all the
trappings.  Gang leader Y.B.  was arrested in his 8,000 TL-per month
flat. Four years ago, Y.B. was convicted of organized crime robbery
and sentenced to 37 years in prison.  To avoid arrest, he underwent
a series of aesthetic operations, changing his nose, chin, teeth and
eyes, besides getting a hair transplant (!). 

Y.B., who was planning to escape to Germany 20 days from now,
used a fake ID and changed the license plates on his luxury car
frequently.


                                  Reptilian homeland