Thief abandons heist to read novel, caught escaping through balcony. Here’s what happened | Trending

After breaking into an apartment in the Italian capital to steal items, a thief is said to have forgotten his intention because of a book. The 38-year-old, whose identity has not been revealed, is said to have entered the apartment through a balcony but was immediately distracted when he discovered a book about Homer’s Iliad on the bedside table.

The 71-year-old homeowner, who was present at the time of the burglary, discovered the suspect and questioned him. However, the thief was too distracted by the book to realize it, NBC15 reported.

The media also reported that the culprit apparently tried to flee through the same balcony through which he entered, but was quickly apprehended.

The book the thief was caught reading was Giovanni Nucci’s The Gods at Six O’Clock. The book’s author was delighted to learn that he had managed to divert attention from the situation. He told Italian magazine Il Messaggero: “It’s fantastic. I would like to find the person caught red-handed and give them the book because they will have been stopped halfway through reading it. I would like them to be able to finish it.” (See also: Thief Leaves Family Note After Stealing Silver and Gold: ‘Someone Is Sick at My House…’)

The thief reportedly said he was climbing onto the balcony to see his friend who lived in the same building.

Earlier, when a thief broke into a doctor’s house in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, he fell asleep in the comfort of an AC and was eventually arrested by the police. (Also Read: Thieves congratulate themselves and celebrate after looting entire inventory of family jewellery store. Watch shocking video)

The thief entered the locked house, rummaged through the belongings, collected the valuables and then turned on the air conditioner to relax. However, the man passed out due to acute intoxication. Meanwhile, the neighbours got suspicious when they found Pandey’s door open in the morning. According to reports, they peeked inside and found the house ransacked, with items strewn everywhere. Later, the police were alerted.