Italian police arrest youths after armed robberies using replica guns

Three young men aged 18, 20 and 22 were arrested by the Carabinieri in Anzio after a robbery at a gas‑gauge retail shop. The suspects entered the premises armed with pistols that were later identified as non‑lethal replica firearms, threatened two employees, and stole the day's cash before being identified through CCTV footage and quickly captured. The weapons and stolen items were seized, and the suspects were placed in detention.

In a separate case in Coviolo, a 17‑year‑old was apprehended after robbing a local pharmacy on 26 June. He presented a replica gas pistol, obtained roughly €150 in cash, and fled, but was intercepted by police near a park and arrested. The police recovered the replica weapon and the clothing used in the robbery. Both incidents illustrate a recent pattern of youth‑led armed robberies in Italy using non‑lethal replica firearms.