Macerata: Couple defrauded by fake police officer; two arrested after fleeing on the A14 motorway.

A phone call, a fake Carabiniere, and a highway escape with approximately €5 worth of jewelry. This is the scheme of the scam carried out, according to the prosecution, against a couple from Civitanova Marche, in the Macerata province. The Carabinieri arrested a 28-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman, both originally from the province of Naples and already known to law enforcement.

The operation began yesterday afternoon after an emergency call from the victim's husband, a 61-year-old woman. Shortly before, the husband had received a call on his home landline from a person who allegedly identified himself as a member of the Carabinieri.

Using a pretext, the self-proclaimed soldier allegedly convinced him to quickly leave the house to reach the local Carabinieri station. This ploy would have left the accomplice free to pursue him.

While her husband was out of the house, the 46-year-old woman allegedly showed up at the couple's door, pretending to be a member of the fake Carabiniere. She then managed to secure several gold jewelry items, with an estimated total value of approximately €5.

When the man realized he'd been tricked, he immediately alerted the operations center. The dispatcher coordinated the patrols in the area and set up a surveillance system along the main escape routes.

The officers located the Fiat Panda used by the two near the Civitanova Marche highway exit. A search of the vehicle and subsequent personal search led to the recovery of all the stolen goods.

The jewelry was returned to its rightful owner, while the two suspects were arrested and charged with aggravated fraud. Following the formal procedures, the man and woman were taken to the holding cells of the Porto Recanati Carabinieri station and held at the disposal of the judicial authorities.

A validation hearing has been scheduled for today for both. Their positions therefore remain under judicial review, and the presumption of innocence and all legal guarantees apply until a final sentence is issued.