A burglar with more than 20 previous arrests has been detained by the National Police after allegedly breaking into a shop at Las Terrazas Shopping Centre in Telde, Gran Canaria, before being caught while waiting for a bus at a bus stop nearby.
Police say the suspect stole three cash boxes containing €450, along with other items from the store, before attempting to leave the area on public transport.
Caught Minutes After the Break-In
The burglary took place on the night of 29th July, when the man allegedly smashed the shop's glass entrance door to gain access to the premises.
Officers from Telde Local Police responded immediately after receiving an emergency call and began searching the surrounding area based on information about the suspect's possible escape route.
They soon found a man waiting at a nearby bus stop carrying three shopping bags with the store’s logo on them.
Inside the bags, officers discovered three cash boxes, each containing €150 in float money, along with other property believed to have been stolen from the shop.
CCTV Helped Identify the Suspect
At the same time, other officers reviewed CCTV footage with shopping centre security staff.
The recordings allegedly showed a man smashing the glass entrance, spending several minutes inside the premises before leaving carrying several bags containing the stolen cash boxes.
After comparing the CCTV images with the man found at the bus stop, officers identified him as the same person and arrested him on suspicion of burglary.
Already Facing Court Restrictions
Police also confirmed that the suspect was already subject to court-imposed precautionary measures relating to a separate burglary case at the time of the alleged offence.
According to the National Police, the man has an extensive criminal record with more than 20 previous arrests for a variety of offences.
Following the completion of police enquiries, he has been placed before the competent judicial authority.
