He removed a tile from the floor of a 19th-century room at the Royal Palace of Caserta, stealing a unique piece from the famous Palazzo Vanvitelliano . It was just after 3:00 PM on March 16, 2023, when the surveillance cameras at the Royal Palace of Caserta , located along the route through the royal apartments, captured the scene of the theft.
The man, a 42-year-old from Castel Volturno, who had entered the Royal Palace as a solitary visitor, stepped on a loose tile from the floor as he passed through the entrance door leading to the Hall of Battles, located in the 19th-century wing . He thought about it, took a few steps back, bent down, and removed the "souvenir," hiding it in a yellow envelope, before continuing his visit.
A 42-year-old man from Castel Volturno reported
At closing time, the coordinator of the museum site's security service , while carrying out a check, notices the theft and alerts the Director, who informs the Carabinieri of the Caserta Company, who carry out the surveys and acquire the images from the video surveillance system.
By viewing the video, the Carabinieri were able to create an identikit of the unknown perpetrator . A manhunt was thus launched before the artifact could be sold on the black market.
Caught by CCTV cameras
Thanks to the timely reporting of the theft and the traditional but no less effective investigative activities, the Carabinieri of the Caserta Company's operational section were able to identify the perpetrator within a few days.
The man, tracked down and arrested, was subjected to a house search, during which the precious tile that he had catalogued and stored inside a plastic bag was found.
Captain Pietro Tribuzio , Commander of the Caserta Carabinieri Company, was able to return the recovered tile to Director Tiziana Maffei , so it can be relocated to the magnificent 19th-century hall. The man, who has been reported, will face charges of theft of cultural property.
