Three off-duty Spanish Civil Guards have prevented a robbery at the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem in Rome.
A priest in the street first noticed the thief and alerted authorities. Officers nearby immediately stepped in and caught the suspect before he could leave the scene.
Among the stolen items were 480 euros, two watches, five lottery tickets, and two lock picks, which were used to open locks without a key.
One of the Civil Guards was assigned to the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. But at the time of the crime, he was off duty.
This swift intervention prevented the robbery of one of many churches that form Rome's historical and religious heritage.
With Holy Week coming up, the basilica receives many visits from pilgrims due to the relics there. The relics are all related to the Passion of Christ, such as nails from the crucifixion, a fragment of the crown of thorns, or even the finger that Saint Thomas placed in Christ's side.
