Portici – A potentially costly prank, dismissed as a "game," ended with a complaint for damages by fire. This is the outcome of a lively night in Portici, where the boredom of a group of teenagers escalated into an act of vandalism against a business.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight at the intersection of Via Poli and Viale Leonardo da Vinci. A Carabinieri patrol from the local station, conducting a patrol, noticed flames rising high near a building. As they approached, the officers spotted a small group of young people standing there, observing the newly lit blaze. Upon seeing their uniforms, the group dispersed and fled.
The escape and the attempt to cover the pack
A brief foot chase ensued. After about twenty meters, the officers managed to intercept and detain one of the fugitives, a local 15-year-old. The boy, clearly agitated, attempted to break free, flailing his arms and screaming, resisting not only physically but also verbally. His priority, in the initial, frantic moments, seemed to be protecting his accomplices: "I'm not telling you who the others are!" he repeatedly shouted at the Carabinieri, attempting to emulate much more structured codes of criminal behavior.
The return to the "scene of the crime" and the admission
While the 15-year-old was being monitored, the situation required the emergency intervention of the Fire Department. Strong winds were fanning the flames, which were caused by piles of cardboard boxes stacked against the walls of a lingerie store. Firefighters' intervention prevented the fire from spreading inside the store, although the exterior walls remained visibly blackened and damaged.
The father of the arrested boy arrived at the scene. Despite the minor's initially uncooperative attitude—he kept repeating, "I can't say that," referring to the names of his friends—the parent's intervention, encouraging him to take responsibility, proved crucial.
About ten minutes later, in a classic "return to the scene" sequence, the officers noticed three teenagers observing the scene from a distance along Viale da Vinci. Seeing the Carabinieri officers following them, they too attempted a second escape, but were caught and stopped.
“It was just a game”
Once all four were reunited, the 15-year-olds broke down, admitting their responsibility. The explanation they gave to the police left a bitter taste in their mouths, due to their complete lack of awareness of danger: "They were just cartoons, it was a game." This carelessness will now have legal and financial consequences. The four minors were reported at large and released to their respective parents, who will now be responsible for paying for the damage caused to the walls of the business.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
This article highlights a worrying situation. Children should understand that certain actions aren't just a game and can have serious consequences. We hope they learn from this episode.