Castellammare, serial snatcher of elderly women arrested

Castellammare – This morning, personnel from the Castellammare di Stabia Police Station and the local Carabinieri Station executed a precautionary detention order issued by the preliminary investigations judge of the Torre Annunziata Court, at the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office.

The man – a serious suspect – is charged with snatching theft on November 3, 2025, and December 1, 2025, aggravated robberies on December 29, 2025, January 3, 2026, and January 8, 2026, as well as aggravated personal injury in relation to the December 29 robbery. The intended victims were almost always middle-aged or elderly women, targeted in the center of Castellammare di Stabia.

The modus operandi: ambushes from behind

The suspect identified potential victims who were in a state of defenselessness, waited for the right moment, and then surprised them from behind. With lightning-fast movements, he snatched earrings—and in one case, a necklace—and fled without being recognized. In one incident, the force of the maneuver caused injuries to a woman's ear.

The evidence: video, license plate and identification

The investigation—coordinated by the Torre Annunziata Public Prosecutor's Office—was conducted in parallel by the State Police (for four incidents) and the Carabinieri (for the two in January 2026). A crucial element was the detailed analysis of public and private video surveillance images installed at the locations of the incidents.

Investigators identified common patterns: the same motorcycle, the same helmet, and the same clothing. The snatch theft on November 3, 2025, is particularly significant: the victim was struck while stopped in her car in traffic caused by the closure of the level crossing on Via Cosenza.

The officers recorded the license plate of the scooter used by the criminal and, through a photographic reconnaissance, the victim herself recognized the suspect.

The arrest in flagrante that closed the circle

On January 14, 2026, the same man had already been arrested red-handed by the Castellammare Police Station for a further snatching theft.

That arrest provided further serious evidence that strengthened the investigative framework for the previous incidents. Risk of recidivism: prison sentence. Based on the evidence gathered, the investigating judge ordered the most serious measure, detention in prison, citing the high risk of recidivism for similar crimes. Following the formal procedures, the arrested man was taken to the Naples Poggioreale prison.