The commitment of the Carabinieri of the Provincial Command of Catania continues in combating the so-called “predatory crimes” which, regardless of the extent of the economic damage, often represent a trauma not only for those who suffer them, but also for the community, which finds itself to feel greater vulnerability to this type of event.
The Carabinieri soldiers are giving top priority to investigations in the event of theft, robbery or damage, systematically carrying out careful inspections and acquiring video surveillance images to be able to reconstruct the dynamics of the events, but also paying the utmost attention to listening to the victims, often able to provide details that may prove fundamental to solving the case.
This operational synergy was also implemented in the particular case that happened to a 48-year-old from Aci Castello, who had turned to the soldiers of the local Carabinieri station for the theft of jewels and watches, such as a Rolex, from his home. worth €25,000 and a diamond and ruby bracelet worth €5,000, a designer leather backpack and several fashionable items of clothing. The episode immediately appeared suspicious to the Carabinieri due to the absence of signs of forced entry into the victim’s home and the doubts raised by the victim himself regarding the possible involvement in the affair of his ex-partner, who was also his ex-employee.
The man’s suspicions were, in fact, confirmed a few days later, when he received a strange request for money from his ex-girlfriend, a 43-year-old from Catania. In particular, the woman demanded a transfer of ten thousand euros for “work services” which, however, had already been regularly paid to her, and this alerted the 48-year-old who, thus, understood that that request was a real ” return horse” in order to get back what had been stolen from him.
The victim immediately updated the Carabinieri, telling her about the ex’s unusual demand and, on the latter’s advice, tried to talk to the woman to get her to explicitly say why she wanted that money from him. The conversation between the two left no room for other interpretations: she had her expensive watch, bracelet and clothes and, to get them back, she would have had to give her €10,000. Under the directives of the investigators, and in constant contact with them, the man gave his ex-girlfriend an appointment at a fuel station in Aci Castello, near which the Carabinieri had already positioned themselves, in order to follow the meeting in discreet mode. During the appointment, she repeated her extortionate request, making it clear, however, that she did not have the precious items with her, therefore, when she was walking away, the Carabinieri decided to intervene, stopping her, and together with her, they went to his apartment for a search.
Here, in the bedroom, the soldiers of the Carabinieri found a trolley in which all the objects belonging to the ex had been hidden. The discovery of all the stolen goods made it possible to report the 43-year-old for receiving stolen goods and attempted extortion, and to return everything to the owner, who was incredulous that he had been blackmailed by his ex-girlfriend.
