Naples: Pickpockets on the loose at Central Station despite security cameras

Naples – A swift, shameless act, carried out in a matter of seconds in broad daylight. It's the latest pickpocketing incident captured by security cameras on Via Alessandro Poerio, a stone's throw from Naples Central Station.

The images, which have now become a shameful habit, were sent to the Green-Side Alliance MP, Francesco Emilio Borrelli, and reveal the precise methods of a petty criminality that no longer fears anything or anyone.

The scene is a familiar one, and for that reason even more intolerable. The target of the theft is an unsuspecting citizen. All around, chaos and anonymity ensured by the comings and goings of travelers and tourists. It is in this breeding ground that organized gangs thrive, acting with a "brazenness that demonstrates the complete certainty of impunity," as Borrelli thunders.

"These videos, now a daily occurrence, aren't just complaints; they're proof of how a crucial area, Naples's calling card, is effectively held hostage by gangs operating with precise, well-honed techniques," the MP accuses. "It's unacceptable that petty criminals are managing public order. These criminals feel untouchable."

Borrelli doesn't mince his words and doubles down, turning his anger into an urgent appeal to the authorities. "We need a permanent, strengthened presence and a change in strategy to implement zero tolerance," he declares. "If pickpockets know they can steal in broad daylight and escape undisturbed, it means there's a flaw in the system. Naples cannot and must not resign itself to this violence and widespread lawlessness."

A cry of alarm that also demands concrete answers. Because the Central Station, the city's vital hub, risks becoming a symbol of uncontrolled decay, with incalculable damage to its image, tourism, and livability.

 The recent history of an area at the mercy of gangs of thieves and pickpockets

The incident on Via Poerio is not an isolated incident, but the latest in a long trail of lawlessness that has transformed the station area into a permanent hub of petty crime.

The "Motor Gang" (May 2024)A few months ago, another video captured a gang on scooters, taking advantage of their speed, snatching bags and phones from the crowded sidewalks of Corso Novara, a street parallel to Via Poerio. They used a hit-and-run technique, but with the same impressive ease.

The Japanese Tourist Attack (March 2024)A Japanese tourist was surrounded by a group of young people at the station exit. While one distracted him with a fake request for information, another snatched his backpack containing valuable camera equipment. All in a matter of moments.

The Cafeteria Robbery (February 2024)Security cameras inside a bar captured a pickpocket, with the skill of a magician, stealing a wallet from the bag of an unsuspecting customer sitting at a table.

The Traders' Revolt (January 2024)The local merchants' association had organized a public protest, denouncing the decline in turnover and the constant climate of fear. "Our customers are being targeted; we call the police every day," they said.

A recurring modus operandi: rapid actions, often in groups, exploiting moments of distraction amidst the chaos. A strategy that, in its repetitiveness, almost seems like a mockery of a security system perceived as ineffective or lacking.

The question circulating among citizens, and which Borrelli holds against the institutions, is just one: how long will one of Naples' most strategic and symbolic locations remain under a daily state of siege, documented but never truly stopped?