Padua, five arrests for three robberies targeting elderly people on 25 August
Police in Padua have detained five people accused of violent robberies against elderly people, including two French tourists. All have criminal records.
Five detained in Padua following three robberies in succession targeting elderly people
Police in Padua have arrested five people suspected of responsibility for three violent robberies committed on 25 August in rapid succession against elderly people. This is reported by Google News IT — Crime (it), citing an official communication from the State Police.
The suspects — three Italians and two foreign nationals without fixed abode and unlawfully in the country — are accused of aggravated robbery continued in concert. They have also been charged with receiving stolen goods in relation to the car in which they were travelling at the time of their detention. All have criminal records for offences ranging from drug dealing to robbery, from aggravated theft to carrying weapons, as well as resisting a public official, fraud, affray and assault.
On the morning of 25 August, a patrol from the Flying Squad Section was approached by a couple of French tourists: the woman, 74 years old, had been violently assaulted by a foreign national who, after grabbing her by the neck, had torn off a gold necklace from her. Her husband had attempted to stop him, but was pushed over and knocked to the ground.
Shortly afterwards, an undercover patrol from the Security Police noticed a white car weaving between lanes with part of its registration plate partially obscured. Following the vehicle through the city streets, the officers witnessed a second robbery: one of the occupants got out, reached an elderly man who had just left a shop, pushed him and snatched his wallet, then hastily got back into the car. In doing so, however, he dropped a packet of cigarettes: inside, police officers found two gold chains, part of the proceeds from the previous robberies. The victim reported that a mobile phone had also been taken from him.
At this point several Flying Squad crews launched a pursuit. The fugitives attempted to flee on foot after stopping the vehicle, but were apprehended and all arrested.
Subsequent investigations revealed that, the same morning, the group had also attacked from behind a 77-year-old woman heading out shopping, snatching a gold chain from her before fleeing in the same white car. The victims' testimonies were corroborated by footage from the city's surveillance cameras, which had recorded the vehicle in the areas where the robberies took place.
Source: Google News IT — Crime (it)