Naples: A gang steals seven Christmas trees from Piazza Plebiscito to demand a "return horse."

Naples – They acted at dusk, taking advantage of the confusion and darkness that enveloped Piazza del Plebiscito during preparations for the inauguration of the "Santa Claus Village."

A gang of about fifteen minors, all dressed in black and with their faces covered by balaclavas, carried out a series of raids, stealing seven small Christmas trees that had just been set up by the “Centro Ets Onlus per bambini” association.
The cameras filmed them as they emerged from the streets of the Spanish Quarter and wandered among the stands pretending to be ordinary visitors.

The blackmail: "Twenty euros for each fir tree."

Only when someone noticed the trees were missing did the alarm go off. Shortly thereafter, one of the young thieves introduced himself to the organizers and readily offered a "return offer": twenty euros for returning each tree.
The person in charge of the installation flatly refused the request and notified the police, triggering the investigation.

Police intervention and investigations

A police car arrived on the scene, followed by a second patrol car that positioned itself in the square with its flashing lights on to prevent further thefts and secure the area.

Investigators from the Flying Squad and the San Ferdinando police station gathered testimonies indicating that the youths had arrived partly on foot and partly on scooters from the Spanish Quarter. It's likely that they quickly fled, using their scooters to transport the stolen goods.

The demonstration continues

Despite the theft and attempted extortion, the organizers replaced the stolen trees without slowing down preparations. The event, promoted by the Chamber of Commerce and scheduled until December 21st, featuring workshops, enchanted trails, and entertainment, was unaffected.

Meanwhile, the police continue their search for the young men responsible for the raid.