NAPLES – He snatched a gold chain from a tourist's neck, attempted to flee, and, to evade capture, attacked a local police officer and even spat at a 14-year-old girl. A 27-year-old man was arrested in the act in the Porta Nolana area of Naples.
Officers from the local police's Lawyer Operations Unit intervened. According to investigators' reconstruction, the young man allegedly targeted a 67-year-old Finnish tourist, violently ripping a gold chain from her neck. The woman was injured and taken to Pellegrini Hospital for treatment.
Immediately after the snatch theft, the 27-year-old attempted to disappear. However, while fleeing, he was caught by officers and allegedly resisted violently in an attempt to avoid arrest.
One of the local police officers was repeatedly struck and sustained injuries that were deemed to heal within seven days. During the frantic intervention, the young man also allegedly spat at the tourist's fourteen-year-old niece.
Investigations revealed that the 27-year-old was illegally present in Italy and had previously been charged with property crimes. He was also subject to a residency order in the Municipality of Naples and a duty to report to the judicial police for a previous aggravated theft.
After the arrest and validation hearing, the judge ordered the 27-year-old to be held in pretrial detention. He was then transferred to the Poggioreale prison.



