Off-Duty Spanish Civil Guards Foil Robbery at Roman Basilica
A routine visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme turned into a pursuit after three off-duty Spanish Civil Guards—including an officer from the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See—thwarted a robbery in progress.
The intervention began when a priest raised the alarm, pointing out a man fleeing with stolen items. The officers acted instantly, intercepting and subduing the suspect before he could escape. Upon his arrest by Italian State Police, the man was found carrying two lock picks, €480 in cash, luxury watches, and lottery tickets, suggesting a calculated spree.
Spanish Officers Subdue Thief in Rome Church
Three Spanish Civil Guards proved they are never truly "off-duty" after capturing a thief inside Rome’s Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. Responding to a priest’s plea for help, the trio—one of whom serves at the Embassy to the Holy See—immobilized the suspect until local police arrived. A subsequent search revealed a "robbery kit" including lock picks, cash, and stolen goods, pointing toward a premeditated crime.
Right Place, Right Time: Spanish Guards Catch Basilica Bandit
In the quiet sanctity of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, a thief thought he had found an easy target—until he ran into three off-duty Spanish Civil Guards.
When a priest’s call for help rang out, the officers (including a Holy See embassy official) pivoted from tourists to crime-fighters, tackling the suspect before he could reach the exit. When the Italian State Police took over, they found more than just the church’s property; the man was armed with lock picks and nearly €500 in cash, ending a professional heist before it could get off the ground.
Source: https://www.ilmessaggero.it/video/roma/tentato_furto_basilica_roma_guardie_civili_spagna_arresto-9431489.html
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