Romanian arrested in Milan after blocking escalator to steal €1,500 phone
A Romanian citizen was caught red-handed at Milan's Central Station metro after stopping an escalator to rob two Japanese tourists.
Unusual theft method at Milan metro: escalator deliberately stopped
A man of Romanian nationality was detained on Wednesday, 2 September, by local police in Milan after taking a smartphone worth over €1,500 from a Japanese tourist at Central Station metro, G4Media reports.
According to investigators' reconstruction, the suspect followed the two Japanese tourists until they entered the metro's escalator. They were carrying wheeled suitcases and large rucksacks. When they reached the escalator, the man allegedly deliberately pressed the emergency stop button, causing the installation to come to an abrupt halt.
Forced to carry their luggage up the steps, the two passengers found themselves in a difficult situation. Taking advantage of the confusion created, the suspect allegedly positioned himself behind them and took a latest-generation smartphone from the pocket of one of the victims.
Officers from the Police Department's Operational Unit intervened immediately and caught the perpetrator red-handed, recovering the phone, which was returned to its owner.
The man faced aggravating circumstances: committing theft within a public transport infrastructure, using fraudulent means — stopping the escalator — and exploiting the victims' vulnerable state.
Source: G4Media