Thefts in Sulcis: Gang dismantled, seven arrests

A serious blow to an alleged criminal organization dedicated to commercial thefts was dealt by the Carabinieri of Carbonia, who in the past few hours have executed seven precautionary measures issued by the Cagliari judicial authorities.

Five people were taken to prison, one was placed under house arrest, and another was ordered to report to the judicial police.

The operation concludes a long and detailed investigative effort that began in November 2023, when a series of repeated thefts had generated widespread public alarm in Carbonia and several municipalities in the province of Southern Sardinia.

The criminal actions, according to investigators' reconstruction, were characterized by a particularly audacious modus operandi: the use of cars stolen shortly before the robberies and subsequently set on fire to eliminate any traces.

The investigation initially followed traditional channels, then availed itself of technical-scientific tests that allowed them to identify an alleged criminal conspiracy aimed at committing crimes against property.

According to the investigative hypothesis, currently being examined by the judicial authorities, the organization was led by several Roma individuals living in the Caput d'Acquas nomad camp, with the support of local criminals.

The precautionary measures involved a total of seven suspects: five men, aged between 23 and 34, living between Carbonia and Alghero, unemployed and already known to law enforcement, were taken to prison; a 42-year-old man from Carbonia was placed under house arrest, while a 24-year-old waiter was ordered to report to the judicial police.

Four other people have been reported at large on charges of having collaborated marginally with the organization, acting as informers or receivers.

The charges against the suspects total 36, including numerous break-ins at supermarkets and businesses in Carbonia and San Giovanni Suergiu, thefts at various service stations in the lower Sulcis region, the theft of cars from a local dealership, and the theft of a Penitentiary Police car parked in Cagliari.

The examination of the images from the video surveillance systems proved fundamental to the reconstruction of the facts , despite the tampering attempts carried out by damaging the cameras.

The footage would have allowed us to reconstruct the group's movements and confirm their habit of acting disguised and wearing gloves.

(Unioneonline/Fr.Me.)