A suspected burglar in Rome was caught off guard after becoming engrossed in a book on Greek mythology during a theft. The 38-year-old allegedly gained access to a flat in the Prati district via the balcony but stopped to read a book about Homer’s Iliad on a bedside table. The homeowner, a 71-year-old, confronted the suspect, who was still reading.

The author of the book, Giovanni Nucci, was amused by the incident and offered to send the suspect a copy to finish reading. The suspect attempted to escape via the balcony but was arrested shortly after. He claimed he had climbed the building to visit someone he knew and thought he was in a B&B.

The suspect was found with a bag containing expensive clothing allegedly stolen from another house. Nucci, the author, found humor in the situation, noting that Hermes, the god of thieves, is also the god of literature. The incident has been described as surreal but full of humanity.