After almost a year of investigations, the Carabinieri of the Provincial Command of Mantua and Turin have arrested five people, all accused of having committed numerous thefts and scams against the elderly in various provinces of Northern Italy. The criminal group was dismantled thanks to an order issued by the investigating judge of the Court of Mantua.
Between July 2023 and May 2024, the gang carried out a total of 13 home burglaries and 8 scams against elderly people. The operations were concentrated in various provinces of Northern Italy, with a total of 9 hits in the province of Mantua, 5 in the Modena area, 2 in the Vicenza area, 2 in the Padua area, 2 in the Verona area and one in the province of Rimini.
The five arrested, aged between 27 and 51, have criminal records for property crimes and are being investigated for aggravated theft, aggravated fraud and continued material forgery. Three of them have been placed in pre-trial detention in prison, while two are under house arrest.
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The investigation, conducted by Carabinieri of the Castiglione delle Stiviere company, revealed the gang's modus operandi. The criminals would show up at the homes of elderly residents posing as gas, water, or even Carabinieri technicians, displaying fake ID cards to deceive their victims. Once inside the homes, they would simulate emergencies related to non-existent gas leaks or pipes contaminated with dangerous substances. To make the scene even more convincing, they would spread odorous substances into the air or set off small firecrackers, creating panic among the victims.
The scam culminated with the victims being asked to hand over cash and valuables, claiming they could trigger an explosion. In some cases, they even managed to convince the elderly to place their valuables in the refrigerator, in an attempt to "protect" them. Once they had their loot, the scammers quickly fled, aided by an accomplice outside the home who monitored the situation and ensured a swift getaway in cars with cloned and counterfeit license plates. The criminal gang amassed over €106 in cash and valuables stolen from the defrauded elderly.
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