Portico di Caserta – The roar of the Sant'Antuono floats and the excitement of the patron saint's day didn't stop a gang of criminals from taking action, but the prompt action of the Carabinieri and the cooperation of the citizens turned what should have been a successful heist into a swift arrest.
A 31-year-old man, a resident of the Naples area and already known to law enforcement, was arrested on charges of residential burglary.
Escape with the doors open
The incident occurred around 19:00 PM yesterday in the city center. While the community was gathered for the parade of floats, a patrol from the Macerata Campania station, engaged in public order duties, was alerted by a passerby.
The man reported an unusual scene on Via Pola: four individuals had been seen fleeing from a house in a black Audi A4, which sped off despite the rear doors still being wide open.
The car blocked by the crowd
Paradoxically, it was the celebration itself that betrayed the fugitives. The Audi became stuck in traffic caused by the crush of revelers a few hundred meters after the robbery. Intercepted by the police, the four occupants abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot through the surrounding streets.
After a frantic chase, the Carabinieri managed to arrest the 31-year-old, while the other three accomplices managed to disappear by taking advantage of the confusion.
An arsenal in the trunk
A search of the vehicle revealed a meticulous criminal operation: the car had license plates stolen a few days earlier in the Naples area. Inside, the officers found a veritable "perfect burglar's kit": iron poles, shears, an axe, a two-way radio, and even a flashing light similar to those issued to police forces.
In addition to the tools, the loot was still on board: containers filled with gold, silver, and jewelry. Over €2.000 in cash was found on the arrested man, believed to be the direct proceeds of the recent theft.
Recognition of the stolen goods
While the man was being taken to the police station, a woman showed up to file a complaint: upon returning home, she found the door forced open and the rooms ransacked. The description of the stolen items and the money matched exactly what had been seized shortly before by the Carabinieri.
By order of the Santa Maria Capua Vetere Public Prosecutor's Office, the 31-year-old was transferred to the local prison. Investigations are continuing to identify the three accomplices who escaped capture.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
It's very strange that a robbery could happen during such a large celebration. The Carabinieri's prompt action was crucial, but I wonder why there were so many criminals around.