Meta di Sorrento – A scene worthy of a detective movie, with chases, banknotes thrown in the wind and a surprise ending with the arrest of the criminal.
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The protagonist of the story is Gennaro Del Prete, a 28-year-old from Orta di Atella, who ended up in handcuffs after trying to defraud a 77-year-old woman from Meta, a town on the Sorrento peninsula, with the classic ploy of the fake courier.
It all starts with a phone call. A man, pretending to be a delivery man, informs the woman that a package is arriving at her house, with a bill of 1.500 euros to pay.
The fake courier collects 900 euros and some jewels
The excuse is always the same: the victim's grandson had purchased something online, but unable to pick up the package in person, he asked to deliver it to his grandmother. Too bad the grandson had nothing to do with it.
The 77-year-old, initially hesitant, is convinced when the fake courier offers to cover the missing amount by pawning some jewelry. Among them, her wedding ring, a symbol full of memories linked to her late husband, and a pair of hoop earrings, a gift from an old birthday.
The woman gives the scammer 900 euros in cash and valuables, but the package never arrives. The courier, in fact, assures her that he will personally deliver it to her nephew, once the jewels have been returned and the rest of the money has been paid.
Only after closing the door does the woman realize she has been tricked. Too late. The scammer has already fled. The grandmother immediately warns her grandson, who, riding his scooter, sets off in pursuit of the criminal, while a call to 112 alerts the Carabinieri of the Piano di Sorrento station.
During his escape he throws the banknotes at the nephew of the elderly woman who was defrauded, who was chasing him
The chase turns into an adrenaline-filled action. The nephew manages to reach the fake courier's car and follow it for several kilometers. The scammer, in an attempt to lose him, throws wads of banknotes at the scooter, hoping to distract him and convince him to desist. But the young man does not give up.
The escape ends dramatically: the 28-year-old, driving his car, rams the scooter, causing his nephew to fall to the ground. The scammer's relief, however, is short-lived. A few hundred meters away, a patrol of Carabinieri and one of the local police block traffic, while two other patrol cars block his way. For Gennaro Del Prete there is no escape.
Fraudster arrested and jewels and part of the money recovered
The military arrested him and recovered the jewels and part of the money stolen from the 77-year-old. About 200 euros, those thrown at the scooter, were lost during the chase. The 28-year-old was transferred to prison and will have to answer for fraud aggravated and improper robbery.
The woman, visibly shocked but relieved, thanked the Carabinieri with tears in her eyes for their timely intervention. A story that, with twists and chases, seems to have come out of a movie script, but unfortunately is reality. And that ends with a clear message: the law, sooner or later, will arrive.
Article published on March 13, 2025 - 10pm
Video Chronicles
This story is truly incredible, I never expected something like this to happen in a place like Meta. It is important to be careful of such scams, especially for older people who are more vulnerable.