On Monday in the Belgian district of Deurne (Antwerp province), a truly absurd incident occurred, which locals dubbed a “burglary with a sleepy ending“. Police detained a man who, after breaking into a building, got so drunk that… he fell asleep right inside the premises on a billiard table.
The story of the crime
According to reports from local law enforcement, the intruder broke into the parish hall (Kriekenhof Parish Hall) in Deurne-Zuid, but the exact reason why he did it remains unknown. There is only one surprising circumstance: the man was extremely intoxicated — according to police estimates, he drank about 16 strong pints of Duvel beer before falling asleep.
The discovery was reported by an official police spokesperson: although the suspect’s origin and motivation are still unknown, one thing is clear — he ended up at the crime scene not to flee, but to rest after an overly active “beer session“.
What is known about the beer and its effects
Duvel is a Belgian strong ale with high alcohol content (usually around 8.5% and higher). Drinking 16 such pints in one night is an enormous amount for the human body, even considering that Belgians are known for their love of beer. The consequences of such a “beer session” can include severe intoxication, loss of coordination, slowed reactions, and, as in this case, loss of consciousness in an inconvenient place… whether it’s a pub, an entrance hall, or a parish hall.
Important to note:
Duvel is not a “light lager“, but a strong ale, and consuming it in such volume can cause severe intoxication, especially for someone without a strong tolerance to alcohol.
Arrest and possible consequences
Police arrested the man shortly after noon for public drunkenness and disturbing public order. The premises were found emptied (of beer), and the suspect was so “at ease” that he didn’t even try to escape.
In addition to administrative punishment for drunkenness, he may face payment for damages related to the broken doors and any internal damage to the building — in Belgian law, such violations are handled separately. Property owners can claim compensation for material harm.
Quick overview of the incident:
| Parameter | Details |
| Crime scene | Kriekenhof hall, Deurne-Zuid district, Antwerp |
| Time of the event | Monday, morning/noon |
| Suspect’s actions | Breaking the door, consuming ~16 pints of Duvel beer |
| Condition | Deep alcohol intoxication, sleeping on the billiard table |
| Arrest | Yes, for public drunkenness and disturbing order |
| Legal consequences | Possible fine for breaking and entering, and compensation for damages |
Police comments
A police spokesperson noted:
“The villain drank a lot of Duvel, among other things”
— emphasizing that one thing is clear: the man clearly did not plan a “classic” burglary.
This statement sparked a wave of jokes and discussions on social media, as the situation itself looks comical and shows how alcohol can minimize even criminal planning.
🍻 Context: beer and crime Such a curious case is far from unique in the world. In other countries, there have already been stories of drunk intruders falling asleep at crime scenes — whether in homes, cars, or even theaters, where they drank and went to sleep instead of fleeing from the police.
Conclusions and takeaways
📌 A classic burglary with fleeing thieves? No — in this case, the criminal became the “most immobile witness” to his own offense. 📌 Main reason for detention? Not an attempt to escape, but deep intoxication and sleeping in a public place. 📌 Legal risks? Breaking and entering, public drunkenness, and possible claims for damages.
This story has become a topic of discussion as an example of how alcohol can turn even criminals into… very sleepy people.
- In case of similar incidents, contact Belgian services:
- Federal Police of Belgium — information on offenses and public order 👉 https://www.police.be
- Federal Justice Service of Belgium — criminal liability, breaking and entering, and public drunkenness 👉 https://justice.belgium.be
