Naples – He wasn't a random target. They had tailed him, studied him, and waited for the right moment. The robbery of a Chinese tourist, which took place on August 9th in Piazza VII Settembre, around 5:00 PM, has all the hallmarks of a planned heist.
A luxury theft, worthy of a movie script, which ended with the theft of a watch estimated to be worth one hundred thousand euros. After the first two arrests, the police executed a further arrest warrant for two other people, believed to be active participants in the robbery.
The victim, a Chinese citizen on vacation in Naples, was calmly returning to his hotel when he was approached by one of the criminals. A violent fight ensued, after which the tourist was robbed of his valuable watch. But worse was yet to come for the gang.
The reconstruction of the Flying Squad
Investigators from the Flying Squad reconstructed the dynamics and organization of the robbery minute by minute. According to the prosecution, one of the two newly arrested men served as a lookout, or controller, during the actual execution of the robbery.
Not only that, he was also allegedly among the masterminds of the plan. His task, supported by his other accomplice, now in prison, was to shadow the victim to identify his habits and the perfect time to strike.
The escape on a scooter
Immediately after the robbery, as expected, the thief who had physically taken the watch hopped on a scooter, driven by an accomplice, and fled into the city traffic. According to the investigation, the lookout was also on that scooter.
The getaway vehicle was allegedly provided by the other individual who was arrested, who actually procured the scooter. A significant detail: the vehicle was found to have been stolen.
The decisive evidence
The effectiveness of the investigation, coordinated by the Naples Public Prosecutor's Office, was based on a combination of traditional and technological evidence. The victim's testimony was crucial, but the decisive blow came from the meticulous analysis of security camera footage.
Investigators sifted through footage from the shops frequented by the tourist and his hotel, managing to reconstruct the victim's entire route and, consequently, that of his pursuers.
These images, analyzed with state-of-the-art technical tools available to the Judicial Police, allowed the identities of the four alleged robbers to be quickly identified.
The two arrested, as well as their accomplices already in prison, are charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and receiving stolen goods. The city, which relies on high-quality tourism, is once again vulnerable to organized crime, which is targeting its most profitable targets.
The situation in Naples is worrying, but it must also be said that the police are working well. The investigations were conducted very carefully and resulted in arrests. Let's hope things like this happen less in the future.