I'm a police officer in the city of Gent for already 27 years. I didn't actually see what follows, but I was able to read the report. It really happened.
Some years ago, a man tried to rob a nightshop. He entered the shop and threatened the owner with a knife or so. The owner, who originated from India, drew a sword to defend himself. He succeeded in chasing the robber away.
Some time later, a man was found bleeding heavily from the hand. Upon further investigation he seemed to have lost a thumb
In the skermish, the shop owner had severed the man's thumb with his sword.
The police was called to the hospital where the robber confessed what happened. He also said which shop he robbed. The doctors asked to police to go to the shop in order to retrieve the lost thumb. So they did.
But....the shop owner had had enough for one night and had closed shop. The police saw the robber's thumb lying on the floor of the shop, but weren't able to get in. It was visible through the shop window. They had to break in to get the thumb and rush it to the hospital. There an attempt was made to reattach the thumb to the man's hand. If this succeeded I don't know. But it's a good story, no ?
