During the night of Tuesday, police were called to an address in Sävedalen, outside Gothenburg, due to a burglary. After an all-night search, the suspected burglar was found – in a lake.
– Here was an extremely motivated perpetrator, says police spokesperson Hans-Jörgen.
The police searched for the perpetrator with a helicopter, police dogs and around ten patrols throughout the night. Nine hours later, the man was arrested several kilometers from the crime scene
– He had made it through bodies of water several times during the night, so he was probably properly cooled down – and very motivated, says police spokesperson Hans-Jörgen Ostler.
According to Hans-Jörgen, the police always had good leads to follow, and therefore there was no reason for them to end the search.
– We had several police dogs searching for the man, and on several occasions they picked up clear tracks, which constantly led us on.
“As big as Gothenburg’s inner city”
The suspect made his way – on foot, through an area as large as the entire inner city of Gothenburg, says Hans-Jörgen.
– So it was probably 6-7 kilometers in each direction. So it was a very good job by the police dog handlers and the police dogs to locate the man.
The police do not want to answer what the man had stolen or why he ran from the police so persistently, for so many hours.
– But here was an extremely motivated perpetrator, says Hans-Jörgen.
Hiding from the police in a lake
When he was finally found, he was therefore in a lake, where Hans-Jörgen believes he tried to hide from the police.
– When I read between the lines, it felt like that anyway. But it will be speculation on my part because I wasn’t there, he says.
According to Hans-Jörgen, there is nothing to suggest that the man was under the influence of drugs or alcohol when they found him, and he was conscious when he was taken to hospital.
– There is no reason to assume that the situation would have worsened.
The man is suspected of grand theft by burglary.