Bengaluru: Spanish Man Calls Police To Report Burglary At Home, Told To 'Speak In Kannada'

In a concerning incident early Wednesday morning, a Spanish national was trapped in his Bengaluru flat for nearly six hours after two burglars broke in.

Despite dialling the emergency helpline 112, a miscommunication occurred when the operator requested he speak in Kannada, leaving him without immediate assistance, according to a report by TOI.

Photo Credit: PTI

Jesus Abrielle, a consultant in his mid-30s, was alone in his ground-floor flat at the Nydus apartment complex on Langford Road.

At approximately 2 am, two intruders entered his home by removing the louvre glasses from a bathroom window in one of the bedrooms. The burglars spent around 30 minutes inside the flat while Abrielle, fearing for his safety, remained locked in another bedroom.

Unable to speak Kannada, Abrielle called the emergency helpline but failed to receive help due to the language barrier. The operator reportedly asked him to speak in Kannada before disconnecting the call.

"He heard the noise and immediately dialled helpline 112. But he didn't get assistance due to the communication problem. The call attendant asked him to speak in Kannada and later disconnected the line," said Sudeep S, Abrielle's landlord.

Burglars Take Valuables

The intruders stole a laptop, a platinum ring, headphones, a wallet containing Rs 10,000, as well as Abrielle's Spanish ID card, driving licence, and debit cards. They entered through the bathroom window and exited via a sliding window in the same bedroom. Although they took valuables worth Rs 82,000, they overlooked other items of significant value, including cash and expensive clothing.

Delayed Action

After the burglars left, Abrielle stayed in his room until 8:30 am, when he contacted his landlord, who arrived promptly. "Abrielle was traumatised after the incident; he didn't call anyone till 8:30 am," Sudeep added.

Lack of CCTV

The apartment complex has no CCTV cameras, making it challenging for authorities to gather evidence. Additionally, a security guard at the entrance, who was chatting with a nearby watchman during the incident, failed to hear any disturbance due to the flat's isolated location at the far end of the complex.

Investigation Underway

Police suspect the burglars may have been labourers from nearby construction sites. They are currently examining CCTV footage from neighbouring buildings and roads to gather leads. A case has been registered under sections 305 (theft in a dwelling house) and 331 (punishment for house trespass or housebreaking) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Emergency Helpline Issues

Addressing the helpline communication issue, a senior police officer suggested the operator may have mistaken Abrielle's mixed Spanish-English call for a prank or a call from an intoxicated individual. The officer explained that the emergency helpline receives 15,000-20,000 calls daily, of which only around 1,500 are genuine.

"Genuine calls are routed to the nearest Hoysala team for immediate action, ensuring that no case is closed before on-site verification," the officer added.