BRAINE-L’ALLEUD, Belgium — A Belgian man accused of attempting an armed supermarket robbery while wearing underwear over his head allegedly followed that failure by setting fire to his clothes, stealing a hearse and driving to Brussels to buy cocaine.

Some criminal plans unravel. This one appears to have started unraveled and worked backward.

The unnamed 36-year-old is facing charges arising from an alleged spree on July 13 and 14 that recently came before a court in Nivelles.

According to court reporting, the trouble began after he mixed medication and alcohol, visited a hospital and then left. He subsequently went to his partner’s apartment despite an order prohibiting contact.

There, he allegedly obtained a blade from an electric carving knife and headed to a nearby Carrefour Market.

His disguise reportedly consisted of a sweatshirt covering his tattoos and underwear pulled over his face.

Apparently, the costume budget had been approved before anyone reviewed the business plan.

Inside, he allegedly threatened a 16-year-old cashier with the blade and demanded money. She refused to surrender the takings, and he left empty-handed. The teenager was badly shaken by the confrontation, according to reporting on the hearing.

What followed did little to improve his prospects.

He allegedly burned clothing in an apartment building’s communal hallway, producing smoke that triggered an alarm and forced residents to evacuate.

After trying parked vehicles, he allegedly stole a Mercedes belonging to a funeral company. Euro Weekly News described it as a hearse. The defendant reportedly claimed its keys had been left inside.

A hearse is certainly a distinctive getaway vehicle. Disappearing into ordinary traffic becomes somewhat more challenging when your transportation suggests somebody should be following in a procession.

Bank cards found inside were allegedly used to purchase cigarettes at two service stations equipped with surveillance cameras. He then drove to Brussels to obtain cocaine, according to the reports.

Police arrested him when he returned to the vehicle. Reporting also describes a subsequent confrontation at the police station during which he suffered a broken leg while being restrained.

Charges include attempted extortion, arson, assault, weapons offenses, cocaine possession and vehicle theft. Prosecutors requested an additional 18-month prison term; judgment was expected November 17.

For anyone keeping score: no supermarket money, an evacuated building, a stolen funeral vehicle and a criminal case.

The underwear disguise does not appear to have delivered the anticipated benefits.

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MichCon

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