A suspected shop thief in Granada managed to turn a getaway into an unexpected meeting with the law after apparently running into the very headquarters of the force in hot pursuit behind him.
The 19-year-old was arrested after allegedly trying to steal several items from a shop in Granada city on Friday, October 16. His escape plan took a rather unfortunate turn when he ended up at the entrance to the Guardia Civil’s own headquarters.
A shop theft takes an unexpected turn
According to the original report from Ahora Granada, the incident began around midday when the young man allegedly attempted to steal goods from a local shop. A shop assistant spotted what was happening and tried to stop him. The suspect allegedly responded by pushing her violently before fleeing the premises.
Several shop workers gave chase, hoping to catch the alleged thief before he disappeared into the streets of Granada. Unfortunately for the suspect, a Guardia Civil officer who had finished his shift and was heading home happened to witness the pursuit near a roundabout close to the force’s headquarters. Rather than continuing on his way, the off-duty officer turned around to help.
The worst possible place to hide
With his pursuers closing in, the young man made a dash for what turned out to be one of the least promising places in the city to seek refuge: the Guardia Civil headquarters. Instead of finding a hiding place, he found more officers.
The off-duty Guardia Civil officer and the guard stationed at the building’s entrance arrested the suspect, bringing his attempted escape to an abrupt end. Whether the 19-year-old genuinely mistook the headquarters for somewhere else or simply made a desperate last-minute decision was not established in the official account. Nor was the brand of navigation app he was using. Either way, his route to freedom had delivered him straight to the people best placed to bring it to an end.
What happens next?
The young man was arrested on suspicion of robbery involving violence or intimidation following the alleged incident at the shop. The Guardia Civil’s official website explains the force’s role in preventing and investigating crime and protecting the public.
The Guardia Civil has not publicly specified which items the suspect allegedly tried to steal, their value or whether the shop assistant suffered injuries. For anyone planning a getaway, the Granada incident offers an obvious lesson: checking where you are running might be just as important as running fast. In this case, the suspect apparently managed to do the chasing officers’ job for them by delivering himself directly to their front door.