Food delivery robberies in Limassol: 8 attacks in October, undercover police officers deployed
Eight robberies targeting food delivery workers were recorded in Limassol in October alone. Police deployed undercover officers, but with limited substantive results.
Eight attacks in one month — food delivery workers in Limassol living in a state of concern
According to Newsit.gr, eight robbery incidents targeting food delivery workers were recorded in Limassol in October alone — on average one every four days. This increase is particularly marked in comparison with August and September 2026, when a total of four cases had been recorded. The figures concern only incidents that were reported to police or became known to the public, according to reporter.com.cy.
The problem is not new. Two years ago, relevant authorities were called upon to provide explanations before the Human Rights Committee of the Cypriot Parliament, following 11 attacks on food delivery workers over a two-month period. At that time, Police Chief Themisthos Arnaoutis had referred to the authorities' actions, saying: "The Police has operations that we cannot announce, the competent Service is conducting analysis to see what trend is prevailing. We were more rigid in the past, we need to make an effort to be more flexible."
More than 700 days later, the attacks continue.
Young perpetrators, not organised crime
Police sources estimate that the incidents are not connected to organised crime or the underworld. The perpetrators appear to be young people seeking to obtain money from delivery workers, whom they regard as easy targets: they are constantly mobile, often carrying cash without particularly robust security measures. Although many workers in the sector are foreign nationals, police do not consider the basic motive behind the attacks to be racist.
The "red button" and questions about its effectiveness
Approximately 20 days ago, Cyprus's Justice Minister Kostas Fytirís proposed to food delivery platform management companies the implementation of a "red button", which delivery workers would be able to press when in danger, so that police could be immediately notified.
"It will take some time to implement, provided the companies agree, so that the delivery worker can press this button and the Police can respond in minimal time," the minister had explained.
However, the measure faces doubts as to its practical effectiveness: robberies typically last only a few minutes and perpetrators may have already fled before police can arrive. Furthermore, implementation requires time and agreement with delivery companies.
Undercover police officers without results
In its attempt to identify the perpetrators, police also tried the use of plainclothes officers who posed as food delivery workers. According to competent sources, this tactic did not yield substantive results, whilst other operations also failed to ultimately reduce the phenomenon. Attacks decrease for certain periods, but then reappear.
The situation is causing particular concern among the hundreds of workers who take to the streets of Limassol daily. Beyond the usual traffic dangers, delivery workers now face the fear of attack or robbery. The problem is more acute in Limassol compared to other cities in Cyprus, where isolated incidents have occurred without corresponding scale.
Source: Newsit.gr