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INSPECTOR CALVIN I

Here is a fun mystery that YOU can try to solve.

Inspector Calvin Mumphry is called immediately after a burglar alarm is set off in a building right next to the police station. Inspector Calvin tells the police commissioner to have the building surrounded, and then wait till he arrives. This is done in a matter of seconds. Inspector Calvin arrives shortly after from his cottage villa where he had spent the night. When he saw the situation present, he was outraged.

"YOU BUMBLING FOOLS!! YOU LET HIM GET AWAY!!" he screamed to the chief constable who apologetically tried to explain the situation as he saw it.

"Oh, no sir, there is no possible way for anyone to have escaped. We have had every single exit covered since seconds after the alarm was triggered."

This was true. It seemed that the entire police force had assembled and no exit was left unguarded. A remarkable stunt, considering the crime was on such short notice, with no warning whatsoever. At least, no warning that Inspector Calvin knew of. The force waited a full thirty minutes and was prepared to lob in tear gas.

"You are wasting your time, and the taxpayer's money! The crook you are waiting for has gotten away long ago," the Inspector persisted.

BUT HOW?

ANSWER: All the exits were immediately guarded and guarded well. However, the police force carelessly forgot to guard any of the entrances. The culprit simply exited backwards through one of them.