Taranto – A military facility, meticulous on-site inspections, and the reckless use of high-powered explosives: the run of the gang specializing in ATM robberies ended yesterday evening, having been dismantled by the Carabinieri of the Taranto Investigative Unit.
Five arrest warrants were issued against five suspects, believed to be responsible for a series of robberies carried out using the "marmotta" technique (a homemade device filled with gunpowder inserted into ATM slots).
According to investigators, the ring's leader is 46-year-old officer Cataldo Bartolo from Bari. Four young accomplices, aged between 20 and 28, living in Palagiano, Massafra, and Grumo Appula, were arrested along with him. The investigation, coordinated by the Ionian Prosecutor's Office, has uncovered a criminal enterprise capable of generating over €170.000.
The map of the attacks: from Puglia to Lazio
The breaking point for the organization was the explosion of the ATM in Montemesola on November 15th. From there, the military followed the group's trail, attributing them to at least 17 attacks.
The gang's "area of action" was vast: not only the Ionian province (Monteiasi, Mottola, Palagiano), but also incursions into Basilicata (Scanzano Jonico), Campania, Lazio, and Calabria. The last heist, a sort of "swan song" before the raid, dates back to the night between February 2nd and 3rd in Santa Margherita di Savoia.
A national emergency: the last few weeks of fire
The Taranto operation is part of a truly national emergency. Similar incidents have been reported in recent days, demonstrating the extreme vitality of these criminal groups:
Naples and Campania (February 4)In Agerola, unknown individuals ripped open the ATM at the local branch, stealing the entire safe before disappearing towards the coastal area.
Lombardy (February 2)Double explosion in the North. In Travagliato (Brescia), a commando blew up the Credito Bergamasco branch, stealing €61.000. Shortly thereafter, another attack occurred in Guidizzolo, in the Mantua area.
Lazio (End of January)Red alert in the province of Frosinone, where in just a few days the Cervaro and Esperia branches were hit with such violence that the mayor called it an "act of terrorism" due to the structural damage to the buildings.
Calabria (January 9)A record-breaking robbery in Decollatura (Catanzaro) netted criminals around €200.000, confirming a trend that sees the provinces of Cosenza and Catanzaro under siege.
Foggia's signature and the connection with blood
The Taranto investigation comes just days after another major blow to crime in Foggia, where five more young men were arrested on January 28. In that case, the shadow of ATM robberies intersected with darker crime news: investigators suspect that the proceeds of the robberies or internal conflicts within the gang may be linked to the murder of a 27-year-old last summer.
The arrest warrants issued yesterday in Taranto are now being examined by the investigating judge for validation, while law enforcement is monitoring the financial flows to recover the remainder of the stolen goods.
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Comments (1)
It's strange how criminal gangs have grown so large in Italy, but the fact that they've been arrested is good news. I hope the Carabinieri can continue working to stop these dangerous groups.