Naples – They had become the "predators" of the Asse Mediano, ready to turn a peaceful car journey into a nightmare of threats and demands for money. The State Police put an end to the antics of two men, a 31-year-old and a 23-year-old, both from Afragola, who were reported for a long series of scams and extortions carried out using the "fake accident" technique.
Their modus operandi was tried and true and unscrupulous. Driving a specially rented car to avoid being traced, the two simulated collisions with other vehicles along the Asse Mediano and surrounding roads.
Once the driver was forced to stop, the trap was sprung: they would show scratches on the bodywork—artificially created with sandpaper before driving—and demand immediate cash compensation. This wasn't just a scam, but actual extortion: the demands were often accompanied by threats to intimidate the victims.
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What broke the bank was the intuition of an off-duty police officer. The officer, noticing the scene and recognizing the typical dynamics of a scam, didn't hesitate: he immediately alerted his colleagues from the Naples North Highway Police Subsection. The patrols' timely intervention allowed them to apprehend the two criminals almost red-handed.
The searches confirmed the suspicions: the sandpaper used to simulate the damage and €510 in cash, likely the proceeds of the illegal activity, were found in the car. Subsequent investigations opened a Pandora's box: the two men from Afragola had previously committed similar attacks in the municipalities of Acerra and Caivano. The vehicle was seized, and the couple was reported to the judicial authorities.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
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