A burglar has died after breaking into the home of a British family in the upmarket resort of Vilamoura, in the Algarve.


The break-in happened during the early hours of Sunday morning, at around 4am, at a villa in the Algarve marina resort.

The villa belongs to a British couple in their fifties, who were in the property with their son, in his twenties, and who are understood to have lived in Portugal for a number of years.

A source from the Portuguese Judiciary Police (PJ) told The Portugal News that the family are “long-term residents” in the Algarve.

According to the source, the wife found the burglar on the first floor of the villa after hearing noises during the night.

Her husband is said to have rushed to her side after hearing her screams, and a scuffle broke out between the Briton and the intruder.

The man was then joined by his son, who hearing the commotion rushed to help his father.

The PJ source explained father and son managed to restrain the thief, and GNR police officers were called to the scene.

Reports in Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã suggest the burglar collpased and died as police officers went to handcuff him.

The newspaper claimed had been held in a sort of "neck-lock", which the PJ source confirmed, saying he had been held around the neck by the couple’s son as they lay on the floor with the father sitting on top of the intruder, said to be "at least 1.80cm tall and of athletic build."

The assailant, a Portuguese national in his mid-20s, is known to police, and has served time before, though it was unclear on exactly what charges.

As the incident resulted in a death the case was handed over from the GNR police force to the PJ police to investigate.

An autopsy has been requested to establish the exact cause of death, with results due either Tuesday or Wednesday, police told The Portugal News.

The PJ source said at present the family has not been subject to any action or restrictions, except to let the authorities know if they leave the country or move house.

In a statement sent to The Portugal News, the British Embassy said: "We are aware of the incident and stand ready to provide consular assistance."