Off-duty officer stops burglar smashing shop door with metal pipe in Budapest

An off-duty police officer prevented a burglary in Budapest’s District X (Kőbánya) after hearing suspicious noises in the early hours of the morning, Hungarian authorities have confirmed.

Off-duty officer hears strange noises at night

According to police reports, the incident took place at around 1 AM on 10 December, when a member of the Budapest Police Headquarters’ District X Police Department, who was spending his day off at home, was alerted by unusually loud banging sounds coming from within his apartment building. After stepping out into the corridor to investigate, he heard the noise again and quickly identified its source.

The man was smashing a glass door

The officer noticed a man on the ground floor attempting to smash the glass door of a small grocery shop using a metal pipe approximately one metre long. Realising that a crime was in progress, the off-duty detective immediately placed himself on duty, ordered the suspect to remain at the scene and called for police backup.

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The suspect was intoxicated

Police said the suspect appeared to be intoxicated and ignored repeated attempts at verbal communication. Instead, he became aggressive and attempted to flee while shouting abuse. In order to prevent the man from escaping, the officer was forced to use physical restraint and held him at the scene until uniformed officers arrived.

The court ordered pre-trial detention

Within minutes, patrol officers from the District X Police Department reached the location and took over the situation. The suspect, later identified as 38-year-old L. Roland, was escorted to the local police station, where he was questioned on suspicion of attempted theft.

Authorities confirmed that the man was taken into custody and that his arrest was subsequently initiated. A court later ordered his pre-trial detention. During questioning, the suspect admitted to attempting the break-in.

It’s common for off-duty officers to intervene

Police praised the swift and decisive actions of the off-duty officer, noting that his intervention prevented further damage to the shop and ensured that the suspect was apprehended without injuries. The case has been recorded as attempted theft, and the investigation is continuing under the supervision of the competent authorities.

Incidents involving off-duty officers intervening in crimes are not uncommon in Hungary, as police are legally entitled to place themselves on duty when witnessing a criminal offence. The Budapest Police Headquarters has repeatedly emphasised that such actions play an important role in maintaining public safety, particularly during nighttime hours.