They are accused of stealing at least ten cars in Aversa and attempting to extort money from the victims for the return of the vehicles, using the method known as “return horse”. Five men, aged between 36 and 50, living between Aversa and the Neapolitan hinterland, were arrested by the Carabinieri on the orders of the investigating judge of the Court of Naples North.
Those arrested are facing charges of theft , extortion, receiving stolen goods, tax evasion, and violation of court orders. Some of them were already under house arrest or special surveillance when they committed the crimes. The investigation, coordinated by the North Naples Prosecutor's Office, began following a victim's complaint.
The latter had reported that her car had been robbed and then contacted by the thieves, who had asked her for 800 euros to return the vehicle. Thanks to video surveillance cameras and wiretaps, the carabinieri were able to reconstruct the various thefts and discover that after each theft, the suspects contacted the victims to organize the "return horse".
