Suspected burglar dies after being caught breaking into home of British couple in Portugal

A suspected burglar has died after breaking into a British family’s villa in Portugal.

The break-in is reported to have happened early Sunday morning in the resort of Vilamoura in the Algarve, where the couple, who are in their fifties, had lived for a number of years. Their 20-year-old son was also in the property at the time.

The wife found the burglar on the first floor of the villa after hearing noises during the night, The Portugal News reports.

Her husband is said to have rushed to her side after hearing her screams. A scuffle then broke out between the man and the intruder.

The couple’s son helped his father restrain the thief.

Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã reports the burglar collapsed and died as police officers went to handcuff him.

The paper claims he had been in a head lock, saying he had been held around the neck by the couple’s son.

Portuguese media are also reporting the man was found with some of the family’s possessions in his pockets, including the keys to their silver Jaguar.

An autopsy has been requested to establish the exact cause of death.