Burglars blow the front off house

Burglars blew the front off a house after triggering an astonishing explosion during a break in, say police. The house breakers had sneaked into the three-storey detached property in Bochum, Germany, and made off with a laptop and jewellery.

Before leaving they way they had come in - through the basement - they poured petrol on the floor and lit it with a match from outside - but instead of starting a fire it triggered a massive blast.



"The fumes mixed with the air in an enclosed space and exploded the liquid instead of igniting it. We think they intended to cover their tracks by setting a fire - and didn't anticipate what would happen," said a police spokesman.

The crooks escaped although it is unclear if they were hurt in the blast. The three people that lived in the house were not present at the time.