A 63-year-old man was arrested on the afternoon of June 18 after breaking into a residence and threatening the owner with two kitchen knives, as well as officers from the Public Security Police (PSP) who were dispatched to the scene in Ovar, Aveiro district.
The suspect entered the domicile “without apparent cause and without the owner’s consent, and threatened him with two kitchen knives,” according to a statement sent to Notícias ao Minuto by the police force.
Upon the authorities’ arrival, the individual, who was “still quite aggressive, did not comply with the officers’ repeated orders to cease his conduct and also threatened them with the aforementioned knives.”
The PSP justified that it was “necessary to use a less-lethal device (‘taser’ – a device that operates through electrical discharges) to temporarily immobilize him, detain him, and restore tranquility at the location.” The police assured, however, that the man did not suffer “any physical damage.”
The weapons used in the crime were seized as a precautionary measure, according to the same note.
The individual was taken to Aveiro Hospital this Friday for psychiatric evaluation, following a decision by the Judicial Court of Ovar.
What is the national outlook on residential thefts?
Notably, in the past five years, the PSP has reported over 38,000 home burglaries in Portugal. During this period, authorities also detained 696 people, according to data released on Wednesday related to the 7th edition of the European Focus Day on Domestic Burglaries.
This security force highlighted that since 2000, there has been an average of 21 daily residential thefts in Portugal, most of which involve breaking and entering, scaling, or using false keys (20,234). In 9,320 cases, burglars used other methods, while 9,273 thefts occurred in areas adjacent to residences, such as garages, annexes, or yards.
Last year, the PSP recorded 295 incidents of theft with severe violence or threats to individuals.
Already in 2023, authorities have reported 293 burglaries, a figure lower than that recorded not only in 2020 but also in 2021. This indicates “a downward trend over the years,” according to the press office of the PSP’s National Directorate.
The authorities also emphasized that the Safe Summer – Direct Key program is already underway, aiming at preventing and enhancing the security of residences, especially when residents are away for long periods.
The PSP reminded citizens that they can report their absence at the police station in their area or through the website https://veraoseguro.mai.gov.pt/Pages/Home.aspx, ensuring that homes will receive special attention from the authorities.
