Sezgin Cetin: ‘Wild-eyed’ burglar jailed after taking cabbie hostage

A “wild-eyed” burglar who panicked when he was spotted by security and took a taxi driver hostage has been sentenced over the terrifying crime.

A taxi driver feared for his life after a “wild-eyed” burglar jumped in his cab, threatening him with a large screwdriver.

The incident occurred at the taxi rank at Broadmeadows Central shopping centre on January 27, after centre staff confronted Sezgin Cetin, 53, who was stealing watches from a repair kiosk.

The former forklift driver had arrived at the centre at about 8.20am, covering his face with a mask and jumper hood before breaking into Good Times Watches.

A staff member at a nearby business soon confronted him, telling Cetin he was going to call security.

The masked man responded by grabbing a large 30cm screwdriver and threatening to stab him before fleeing out of the centre.

The staff member gave chase, shouting at outside taxi drivers not to let him in.

He would later tell police he could see the “dread” in the eyes of driver Ahmet Yucel as Cetin forcefully entered the taxi.

Sezgin Cetin jumped in a cab and threatened the driver with a screwdriver.

Broadmeadows Central. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

Cetin faced the County Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to charges of burglary, aggravated carjacking, unlawful imprisonment, assault and possessing a controlled weapon.

His lawyer had previously told the court Cetin had “panicked” after being confronted and operated on instinct.

“This offence ought be viewed at the lower end of the scale,” she said.

“There was no actual violence. Mr Cetin presents as a sad figure, much of his life has been marred by drug use and a revolving door of offending.

‘We can see in his record that shop theft sometimes go beyond the boundary and escalate.”

Footage taken from the taxi shows Cetin holding the large yellow-handed screwdriver towards Mr Yucel and telling him to “drive”.

“I don’t want to have to hit you,” he said.

He directed the scared man about 10 minutes up the road to Midas Ct in Meadow Heights before offering him six or seven of the stolen watches to keep quiet.

“Shut your mouth I’ll give you these,” he said.

“Don’t call the police.”

Mr Yucel drove immediately to a police station after he was left alone, telling police in 20-years of driving he’d “never experienced anything like this”.

“His eyes were wild, he looked crazy,” he said.

Cetin was arrested after he returned to Broadmeadows Central just five hours later and was recognised by security.

He was jailed for three years and 10 months with a non parole period of three years by Judge Nola Karapanagiotidis.