Como, tourists robbed in van: 21-year-old arrested

Context

TL;DR

• Egyptian 21-year-old arrested in Como
• Theft targeting tourists on via per Cernobbio
• Scuffle near the Lido di Villa Olmo
• Investigations opened into the accomplice who fled

Key facts

• Charge: improper robbery
• Arrested: 21-year-old Egyptian national
• Intervention: Como Mobile Radio Section and Como-Rebbio Station
• Stolen property: clothing, personal belongings and identity documents
• Destination: Como Detention Centre

The operation in Como

During the night, on Via per Cernobbio, an attempt to steal belongings from a couple of tourists escalated into a violent scuffle, during which kicks and punches were thrown. The incident led to the arrest, by the Carabinieri of the Como Mobile Radio Section and the Como-Rebbio Station, of a 21-year-old Egyptian national, unlawfully present in the country, accused of improper robbery.

The incident began inside a van parked along the road, where the owners, a husband and wife, were sleeping. A loud noise suddenly woke them. The man, immediately noticing that some clothing and personal belongings were missing, contacted the Single Emergency Number 112.

The interception took place near the Lido di Villa Olmo: the theft victim and a passing motorist, identified as a witness, managed to do so. Once they had been reached, the two fugitives attacked them with kicks and punches in an attempt to evade capture.

One of the accomplices disappeared by climbing over the facility’s gate; the other, the 21-year-old, was pinned to the ground by the two men and held until the prompt arrival of the Carabinieri officers.

The transition from theft to the scuffle occurred during the escape, after the victim and the witness had reached the suspects. The husband was the person who had noticed the missing items and called 112; the other man involved in the interception was the passing motorist identified as the witness.

Operational details

The recovered stolen goods

The recovery of the stolen goods took place in two distinct stages, both described after the young man was stopped. During the subsequent search, the officers found a bag on the 21-year-old containing the goods stolen from the woman. The first discovery therefore took place during the check of the young man.

The checks then continued along the route taken by the criminals. Inspection of the route made it possible to recover the remaining stolen goods, including the identity documents abandoned during the escape. All the recovered material was returned to its rightful owners.

The distinction is clear: the bag contained the goods stolen from the woman, while the rest of the items taken were recovered along the route. The latter also included the identity documents, left behind during the escape. The return covered all the recovered stolen goods and returned the clothing, personal belongings and documents to the owners of the van.

The officers' work therefore involved both checking the young man and inspecting the route. These are the two steps described that led to the return of the stolen goods, with the material found returned to its rightful owners.

Key points

The legal follow-up

After the arrest carried out by the Carabinieri officers, the 21-year-old accused of improper robbery was transferred to Como Prison by order of the Judicial Authority.

The subsequent investigation, however, concerns the accomplice who managed to flee. Investigations continue to identify him. The person being sought is the second fugitive intercepted near the Lido di Villa Olmo, the one who managed to escape by climbing over the facility's fence.

The two men held the 21-year-old to the ground until the prompt arrival of the Carabinieri officers. The accomplice, however, managed to flee, and investigations now aim to identify him. The detained young man was then transferred to Como.

The accomplice is therefore the person at the center of the inquiries continuing after the arrest and transfer of the 21-year-old. The case remains split between an arrest followed by transfer to Como Prison and a search that is still under way. The two developments are those indicated at the end of the operation: the 21-year-old's destination and the investigations to identify the accomplice who managed to flee.

Source: comozero.it