Naples – Moments of terror erupted in the heart of the Mercato neighborhood, where an attempted robbery at a lottery shop turned into an assault on the owner. State Police officers arrested Antonio Monticelli, a 42-year-old resident of the historic center, accused of breaking into the business on Vico Gabella alla Rivera, a side street off the busy Via Amerigo Vespucci.
According to investigators' reconstruction, the events occurred yesterday morning. The man, who entered the premises intending to carry out the robbery, did not hesitate to use physical violence.
He allegedly grabbed the owner and dragged her to the counter in an attempt to force her to hand over the day's takings. The situation, which threatened to escalate further, took a sudden turn for the worse thanks to the intervention of the victim's husband.
Upon seeing the woman's husband, who had probably been attracted by her screams, the robber gave up. Fearing he might be overpowered, Monticelli let go and fled on foot, trying to escape into the crowds in the surrounding streets.
The alarm was raised immediately. Thanks to the timely report and descriptions provided by the victims, patrol cars from the General Prevention Office, already engaged in territorial patrols, began tracking down the fugitive.
The manhunt lasted only a few minutes: officers intercepted and detained the 42-year-old along Corso Umberto I, one of the city's main thoroughfares, not far from the crime scene. Monticelli was subsequently arrested and will now face charges before the judicial authorities.
Changes and revisions to this article
- Article updated on 22/11/2025 at 06:22 - Typo corrected
- Article updated on 22/11/2025 at 06:23 - Content updated
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