Naples – A window opens onto an autumn night, a shadow creeps in, and sudden chaos erupts: nuns' screams shatter the silence of an elementary school. This is the surreal scene unfolding yesterday evening on Corso San Giovanni a Teduccio, an eastern suburb of Naples, where a 29-year-old man from San Giorgio a Cremano attempted a robbery but was scared off by the alarm raised by the nuns who guard the school.
According to the reconstruction by the Carabinieri of the Poggioreale Company, the man had eyed the elementary school as an easy target. With the window wide open, he forced open the screen—the only barrier between him and the interior—creating a gap to gain entry. The target? Likely valuables or school equipment, although no specific motive has yet emerged.
But the plan fell apart: the nuns, who live in the building and know it as a sacred place for the education of the little ones, were not asleep. Surprised by their presence, the thief found himself faced with an unexpected sight: the nuns, terrified but determined, began screaming and immediately dialed 112.
Confused and panicked, the 29-year-old turned around, taking refuge in the same gap in the screen door and disappearing into the dark streets of the neighborhood.
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It didn't take long for the police to crack down. Thanks to the analysis of nearby surveillance cameras and the detailed descriptions of the nuns—still visibly shaken, according to investigative sources—the man was identified within hours. Charged at large for attempted aggravated theft and criminal damage, the 29-year-old will now face trial.
The incident is part of a broader patrol conducted by the Carabinieri in the San Giovanni a Teduccio neighborhood, an area known for its social challenges: high youth unemployment (over 30% according to 2024 ISTAT data) and petty crime ranging from theft to drug dealing. The night's events also inflicted two further blows on local crime.
The school incident shines a spotlight on a resilient yet fragile neighborhood, where communities and law enforcement collaborate to defend places of innocence. The nuns, contacted for comment, responded simply: "We prayed and acted. God protects those who protect the little ones." A warning that, in a wounded Naples, rings with hope.
Comments (1)
The episode recounted in the article highlights how certain places can be vulnerable despite the presence of people ready to defend them. It's interesting to see how the nuns responded, but one wonders whether sufficient security measures are in place.