Cookie thief crumbles on airport runway
NICOSIA (AFP) – A man who stole two trays of cookies from a bakery in the coastal town of Larnaca caused a scare at the nearby airport when he drove onto the runway, forcing aircraft to slam on their brakes, police said yesterday. Investigators said the saga began when George Metalaris, 29, walked out of a Larnaca bakery Wednesday evening with 40 Cypriot pounds’ (70 euros’) worth of cookies without paying and drove off. The Greek Albanian truckdriver was spotted 20 minutes later by air-traffic controllers as he weaved among parked aircraft at the seaside airport. His 7-year-old nephew was in the car with him. The car was eventually intercepted on the parking apron after driving around the tarmac for around 20 minutes. Authorities have ordered an inquiry into how the man evaded police at what is supposed to be one of the most secure places on the island because of anti-terrorist measures.
