A 28-year-old Cuban man has been arrested in Italy alongside two Peruvian nationals for allegedly participating in thefts against two women aged 66 and 86 using the so-called "coin trick." This deceptive tactic is employed to distract victims and steal their belongings.
The arrests took place on Friday, October 23, in the province of Siena, located in the Italian region of Tuscany. New details of the case were released by the police on Thursday, October 29.
According to Il Cittadino Online, the other suspects include a 40-year-old Peruvian man and a 25-year-old woman of the same nationality.
Understanding the Coin Trick Deception
The investigation was prompted when a 66-year-old woman reported the theft of her handbag from a car parked outside a tobacco shop in Due Ponti, near Siena.
Police reconstruction revealed that a man and a woman exited a black car, staying close to the establishment while observing the victim's actions. As the woman returned to her vehicle, one of the suspects approached her window, pointing out several coins on the ground, suggesting they might have fallen accidentally.
The woman exited the car to pick them up, during which time a second individual allegedly opened the opposite door and took her handbag. The suspects reportedly fled the scene in the black car driven by a third accomplice.
Surveillance Footage Leads to Car Identification
Following the report, Siena's Highway Police reviewed security camera footage, successfully identifying the vehicle involved. This information was relayed to the police headquarters’ operations room. Meanwhile, officers from the Mobile Brigade tracked the car’s movements through city and provincial surveillance systems.
The vehicle was soon located in the municipality of Colle di Val d'Elsa. Authorities claim the occupants tried to evade police control but were eventually apprehended.
During the search, officers discovered personal items linked to the initial complainant, as well as a plastic bag containing documents and belongings of another woman, aged 86. It was determined that this second woman had also reported a similar theft in a supermarket parking lot in Colle di Val d'Elsa.
Legal Measures and Restrictions on the Suspects
Following the preliminary investigations, the three suspects were charged with alleged aggravated theft in concert, under Italian penal law which addresses the collective involvement in a crime.
After a validation hearing, a judge ordered a precautionary measure requiring the suspects to remain in the municipality of Rome, where they reside. Additionally, Siena's Chief of Police, Ugo Angeloni, decreed a four-year ban preventing the trio from returning to Siena and Colle di Val d'Elsa.
This judicial measure is not a conviction; the suspects' criminal liability will be determined in subsequent court proceedings.
This case has been covered by Radio Siena TV and other regional media outlets.
FAQs on the Coin Trick Thefts in Italy
What is the "coin trick" used in these thefts?
The "coin trick" is a deceptive tactic where thieves distract victims by pointing out coins on the ground, making them believe they dropped them. While the victim is distracted, an accomplice steals their belongings.
Where did the arrests take place?
The arrests occurred in the province of Siena, in the Tuscany region of Italy, specifically in the municipality of Colle di Val d'Elsa.
What legal actions were taken against the suspects?
The suspects were charged with alleged aggravated theft in concert. A judge ordered them to remain in Rome and barred them from returning to Siena and Colle di Val d'Elsa for four years.