Burglar in Spain drinks himself to sleep in bar raid gone wrong

A Bilbao bar owner could have been forgiven for expecting a nasty surprise after discovering someone had broken into the premises. Finding the alleged burglar fast asleep inside, with a half-empty bottle of orujo beside him, was probably not what he had in mind.

The bizarre incident happened in the early hours of Friday at the Río-Oja bar in Bilbao’s Casco Viejo. The suspected thief reportedly forced his way inside, helped himself to three beers and opened a bottle of orujo, because, why not? But unfortunately for him, his attempted robbery took an unexpected turn.

An attempted robbery turns into a drinking session

According to Antena 3 Noticias, the man forced open the bar’s metal shutter to gain entry. The alarm system was switched off because it was undergoing maintenance, allowing him to enter without triggering it.

Rather than making a quick getaway with valuables, he reportedly treated the premises as his own private drinking spot. He consumed a fair amount of alcohol including half a bottle of Orujo, a traditional Spanish grape pomace brandy with considerably more kick than your average cerveza.

Neighbours call the police

Noise coming from the premises alerted nearby residents, who contacted the police after suspecting someone had broken in. When officers arrived, they discovered the alleged burglar having forty winks inside the establishment. Beside him sat his Achilles heel: the bottle of orujo, with around half its contents remaining. His night ended in police custody rather than with the stolen goods he may have originally been hoping to find.

The bar had already been targeted

The incident might sound like a comedy of errors, but the Río-Oja has a much more serious problem. The bar had reportedly been targeted for the third time in 2026. During a previous break-in in August, thieves forced the shutter and escaped with €300. Two other nearby establishments were also reportedly targeted that Friday night, adding to concerns among local traders about security in Bilbao’s Casco Viejo.

Repeated robberies leave businesses facing repair bills, damaged entrances and stolen cash or equipment. Even when intruders fail to take anything, owners still have to deal with the damage and the cost of making their premises secure again.

Repeated break-ins leave bar owners worried

Local hospitality businesses have expressed concern about the number of robberies and are calling for greater security in the historic centre. For the Río-Oja’s owner, another break-in means yet more repairs and the worry of being targeted again.

The latest intruder may not have managed to steal anything, but he certainly left the bar with a story that will be difficult to forget. Most customers are eventually asked to leave when a bar closes. This one needed the police to show him the door.