The Catania State Police has arrested a pluripjudged person responsible for the crimes of aggravated theft, with the so-called split mode, and receiving stolen goods.
The investigators of the Mobile Squad have reconstructed the modus operandi of some predatory actions, with particular reference to some commercial activities in the city center, subject to robberies and aggravated thefts, through the so-called "split" system that appeared in the first instance attributable to the hand of a single subject.
The most affected commercial establishments were those which, at this time of pandemic, are allowed to work as pharmacies and bakeries, by a misrepresented subject, driving cars that are theft and active especially at night.
This escalation led to an intensification of the investigations conducted by the policemen of the Anti-theft Section who placed under the magnifying glass some offenders specialized in similar crimes. The services prepared, corroborated by traditional investigative and observation activities have allowed us to limit the number of possible authors.
On the night of April 27, at approximately 2:15 am, the local Operating Room had issued a radio note relating to a theft in progress, with the "split" technique, at a pharmacy located in the San Giorgio district, by a subject , who, using a dark-colored Fiat Uno car as the ram, had stolen it, had broken the shop window.
In particular, from the vision of the images extrapolated from the video surveillance system with which the pharmacy is equipped, it was possible to ascertain how the author was specialized in this technique, already well tested, so much so that with only two maneuvers in reverse, impacting the window with the rear corner of the car, he managed to shatter the showcase, introducing himself inside where he spent only a few minutes just enough time to subtract the collection.
Staff from the local Scientific Police Regional Office intervened on the spot for the relevant findings and assessments.
Following the report, the policemen of the Anti-theft Section, already near the pharmacy, intercepted the criminal on board the vehicle reported by the Operations Room, noting that the rear of the car was visibly damaged by the crack just perpetrated. The result was a long chase through the streets of the historic center, which continued for a further stretch on foot after the driver lost control of the vehicle, ending up against a wall.
The detained subject, identified by a well-known criminal, was still found wearing latex gloves, a neck warmer and a woolen hair, used to misrepresent himself during the theft, as confirmed by the images.
Subjected to a personal search, he was also found in possession of a key used to tamper with the ignition panel of the car used for the split
Further investigations are underway by this mobile team, with the coordination of the local judicial authority in order to verify any liability of the subject in other similar episodes or in some aggravated robberies consumed recently in the Etna capital.