Adana Suspects Accused of Faking an Epileptic Seizure After Being Caught Trying to Burglarize Home

The two women allegedly tried to explain away an attempted break-in in Adana by claiming they were collecting aid for people in need. When residents caught them outside a home, one of the suspects reportedly threw herself to the ground and began convulsing, while her companion said she had epilepsy and was suffering a seizure.

The incident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 in the Küçükdikili neighborhood of Seyhan. Gökçe U., 24, and Yeter U., 26, allegedly tried to open the door of Fatma Kılavuz’s home. Kılavuz noticed them and came outside, prompting the two women to run. Residents chased them and caught up with them.

Kılavuz said she believed the seizure was an act and recorded the scene on her cellphone. After she alerted police, officers searched the suspects and reportedly found a lock pick, which they said had been used to open doors. Police also reported that Yeter U. had 80 prior criminal records and Gökçe U. had 20.

Kılavuz told police that her home had been burglarized three months earlier and that gold and jewelry worth about 1.5 million Turkish lira had been stolen. She filed a complaint against the two women.

The suspects reportedly denied that their purpose was burglary and said they had gone out to collect aid for people in need. After police procedures, prosecutors sent them to court, where both were ordered detained.