Sapri, a man steals a car on the seafront and flees towards the highway: 35-year-old arrested after a daring chase

Sapri – A daring day of thefts and escapes that hit the Gulf of Policastro yesterday afternoon ended with the arrest of a 35-year-old homeless man with a criminal record, already known to law enforcement.

The man took advantage of a moment of distraction to steal a car parked on a street near the Sapri seafront. The vehicle belonged to a 50-year-old resident of Torre Orsaia, who was busy doing some carpentry work nearby. The owner immediately noticed the theft and alerted the police.

A search operation was launched involving several Carabinieri patrols. Officers from the Sapri Company, and in particular those from the Sanza Station, located the vehicle along state road 517 "Bussentina," the arterial road that connects the coast with the Vallo di Diano hinterland.

Upon seeing the first patrol car, the driver didn't hesitate: instead of pulling over at a checkpoint, he pressed the accelerator, starting a high-speed chase along the highway.

The chase continued for several kilometers, with the 35-year-old attempting to disappear by heading towards the A2 Mediterranean motorway. The outcome came shortly before the Padula-Buonabitacolo junction: the Carabinieri managed to block the fugitive's path, blocking the vehicle and detaining the man.

After routine checks and identification, the 35-year-old was arrested on charges of aggravated theft and resisting arrest. He was transferred to the Salerno-Fuorni prison, pending a validation hearing. The vehicle, along with the tools inside, were recovered and returned to its rightful owner.

Calm has returned to the scene, but the incident represents yet another warning to address predatory petty crime in the southern Cilento area at the start of this year.