Naples – The "groundhog technique" continues to claim victims among banks in Southern Italy, but law enforcement is tightening its grip on the gang responsible for dozens of ATM robberies.
Last night, the State Police and Carabinieri arrested five men, aged between 22 and 55, on suspicion of aggravated theft. They were also charged with receiving stolen goods and illegal possession of explosives.
The operation is part of a broader joint effort that has been monitoring the Campania and Puglia regions for weeks, the scene of an unprecedented criminal escalation. The five arrests add to other arrests already made this morning between the two regions, as part of a coordinated offensive against the same criminal organization.
The double blow of the night
It all began on the night of February 4th, when two separate explosions rocked the municipalities of Casavatore and Agerola. The gang targeted the ATMs of two banks.
In Agerola, on Viale della Vittoria, two violent explosions shatter the night's silence: the criminals detonated the ATM and stole the cash, fleeing in a car in the direction of Amalfi.
Officers from the Pianillo station responded immediately and began a search. Moments later, the vehicle was intercepted by Carabinieri officers from the Amalfi Company. A tense chase ensued.
The escape and the three-pointed nails
During the chase, the car's occupants resorted to a well-tested criminal technique: they threw three-pointed nails onto the roadway, puncturing the patrol car's tires, forcing the officers to slow down. The fugitives' vehicle was again spotted by the Salerno Mobile Radio Unit, but upon seeing the uniforms, the criminals abruptly reversed.
The ride ended in Cetara, where they abandoned the car and fled on foot. Subsequent investigations revealed that the vehicle had stolen license plates, further evidence of the premeditation and planning behind the robbery.
The hideout has been identified: 20 euros and an explosive arsenal have been seized.
The intensive investigation, conducted jointly by the Flying Squads of Naples and Caserta and the Carabinieri of the Castello di Cisterna Investigative Unit, the Castellammare Company, and the Torre Annunziata Group, led to the identification of the gang's hideout in San Gennaro Vesuviano. Here, the five arrested men were located, found in possession of approximately €20 in banknotes of various denominations, the clear proceeds of the crime.
A search of the home revealed a veritable arsenal: ten ready-to-use explosive devices, headlamps for working in the dark, a bag containing three-pronged nails, and the characteristic metal equipment known as "marmots," used to blow open doors.
The criminal escalation between Campania and Puglia
The operation is part of a broader investigative effort. In recent weeks, explosive attacks on ATMs using the same technique have increased in Campania and Puglia.
The "Groundhog Gang" has repeatedly struck in both regions, spreading panic and causing extensive damage to credit institutions. Investigators estimate that the criminal organization is responsible for dozens of robberies carried out with the same modus operandi: nighttime explosions, getaways in cars with cloned license plates, and the systematic use of three-pronged nails to slow down pursuits.
The joint effort put in place in the most affected municipalities is bearing fruit, although the frequency and violence of the attacks remain worrying.
A brawl at the Naples League final was suspended, with a YouTuber carried away on a stretcher.
An evening of sports and entertainment turned violent on Thursday, February 12, at the Holly e Benji Sports Center in Casalnuovo, where the Naples League final between Napoli Creators and Borussia Dortmund was interrupted by a violent brawl that broke out on the pitch. One player was injured in the clashes and…
Carabinieri from the Naples Central Company executed a community placement order in the early hours of today against a 17-year-old Neapolitan boy, seriously suspected of attempted aggravated arson. The order was issued by the investigating judge of the Naples Juvenile Court at the request of the Naples Juvenile Prosecutor's Office. The attempted arson attack on the 12th…
Brusciano was thoroughly searched by Carabinieri from the local station, who conducted a wide-ranging search of the "219" public housing complex on Via De Filippo. During searches of the apartments and common areas, officers found 14 kilos of marijuana in a condominium space, hidden in 13 vacuum-packed bags…
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
The article discusses ATM robberies in Southern Italy. It's truly alarming how crime is spreading. More effective solutions should be found to stop these unscrupulous criminal gangs.