KOTA, INDIA: A burglary attempt in India’s Rajasthan state took an unusual turn when a suspected thief became trapped in a kitchen exhaust fan shaft, leaving him suspended for nearly an hour before being rescued by police, India Today reported.
The incident occurred on January 3 at the residence of Subhash Kumar Rawat in Kota district. Rawat was away travelling at the time.
According to local police, the suspect entered the house at night intending to steal valuables. However, his escape plan failed when he became wedged in the narrow exhaust shaft.
When Rawat and his wife returned home around 1am, they found the kitchen illuminated by the headlights of a scooter parked outside.
To their shock, they saw a man trapped halfway through the exhaust fan opening, with part of his body inside the house and the rest hanging outside.
#Rajasthan In a bizarre incident in Kota, a thief attempting a burglary got wedged in a kitchen exhaust fan shaft, hanging helplessly for about an hour. The mishap occurred while the homeowner was away, and one accomplice fled the scene.
Police rescued the man and took him into… pic.twitter.com/K8LlZ90m0J— The Pioneer (@TheDailyPioneer) January 6, 2026
Police said the suspect’s accomplice fled the scene after the man became stuck. Local residents reportedly gathered as the drama unfolded for about an hour.
Officers eventually arrived and rescued the man from the shaft, taking him into custody.
A video showing the suspect struggling to free himself with the help of policemen has circulated widely on social media.
Authorities are investigating to track down the accomplice and determine whether the arrested suspect is connected to other theft cases in the area.
Sources, cited by India Today, also stated that the suspects had arrived in a vehicle displaying a police sticker, allegedly to avoid arousing suspicion.
