Sleeping policeman saves the day

AN OFF-duty Guardia Civil officer detained a man who had allegedly just broken into a shop in Torrevieja.

The officer, who lives near the store, had been woken early in the morning by the sound of ‘intense banging’ coming from the street.

The bleary-eyed officer looked out of his window and spotted a man crawling out from under the metal shutters of the establishment.

He could see that the man was carrying a black box, which he suspected was the till from the store.

According to a force spokesman, the officer ‘had no doubts’ about going straight down to the street to make an arrest.

However, the suspect saw him exiting his apartment block and ran off. The officer gave chase and finally caught up with him.

According to the spokesman, a ‘violent and intense struggle’ then occurred, with the suspect putting up ‘great resistance’ to the off-duty officer’s attempt to arrest him.

During the fight, the officer fractured a wrist, he added.

Shortly afterwards a Guardia Civil patrol arrived and they were able to arrest the man.

They were also able to recover the till which the man had removed from the shop.

It contained €120 in cash and has been returned to the store owner.

The 31-year-old suspect has been charged with breaking and entering and was bailed by a Torrevieja judge until his trial.

The incident occurred last Thursday morning just after 02.00 in the town centre.

The spokesman noted that the off-duty officer is based at the Torrevieja Guardia Civil station.