They went into action in the middle of the night, as a group, targeting a restaurant that had already been targeted in the past. This is the third time in two years that "Il Rusticone," at Via Atellana 61 in Arzano, has been visited by thieves.
There were seven of them, all with their faces covered by balaclavas. A specialized gang, equipped as if they were planning to rob a bank vault. And yet, it was a restaurant with only a few pennies in the house.
The complaint was filed this morning, February 12, 2026, at the Carabinieri offices by the administrator of the company Four Stars Srl, Marco Mastrobuono, 35 years old, a trader, resident in Afragola.
According to the complaint, the establishment had been closed regularly around midnight. An hour later, at 1:00 AM, the alarm was triggered. Through the video surveillance system connected to his cell phone, the owner noticed the presence of several individuals already inside the business.
Within five minutes, he reached the restaurant, but the group had disappeared. Meanwhile, the family had alerted 112.
Access from adjacent land: grate cut and window broken
According to the complaint, the criminals entered from a neighboring property and then forced open a window. They first cut the iron grate, then broke the frame and entered the premises.
Once inside, they searched the rooms for cash. But the cash register was empty. The cash loot would have been just a few pennies. At that point, the raid focused on something else.
Via fine champagne and Canadian lobsters
The group – according to internal videos, five in total already handed over to the military – acted quickly, targeting the most expensive bottles and even the restaurant's aquarium.
Take home a bottle of Armand de Brignac, two of Cristal Roederer, six of Moët Ice Rosé, six of Moët Ice, six of Moët, and two of Dom Pérignon. Along with the champagne, you'll also find Canadian lobsters, taken directly from the venue's aquarium.
The value of the stolen goods has been estimated at approximately €2, but the inventory is not yet final. The structural damage to the window and grille remains to be estimated.
No private security, investigations underway
The restaurant is equipped exclusively with internal video surveillance systems. It does not have private security or theft insurance.
A Carabinieri patrol from the Arzano station responded to the scene and conducted an inspection with the owner. Footage has been acquired and will now be analyzed to identify those responsible.
The complainant stated that he had no suspicions about anyone. A formal complaint was filed against unknown persons, with the right to join the criminal proceedings as a civil party.
This is the latest setback for "Il Rusticone" in two years. An escalation that has reignited security concerns among local business owners. Antonio Russo, manager of the establishment, said: "They're asking for increased nighttime surveillance," in an area like Arzano that seems abandoned. "They won't stop us, and we won't stop. But we definitely ask for greater vigilance from law enforcement."
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
This article talks about a robbery at the Il Rusticone restaurant, but it seems strange to me that there's no surveillance. Seven thieves in the middle of the night, yet the restaurant is unprotected? We need to think about this situation.