Italian police crackdown nets 70 arrests in nationwide anti‑theft operation

From early May to 22 June, Italy's police conducted a coordinated operation in 26 cities across the north and centre of the country, targeting predatory crimes such as burglaries, robberies and fraud against the elderly. The effort, led by the Mobile Teams under the Central Operational Service and supported by the Crime Prevention Unit and local police, resulted in the arrest of 70 individuals, including one minor, and the filing of 264 complaints, of which 25 involved minors.

Authorities seized 29 tools used for forced entry, €13,035 in cash, branded clothing, gold jewellery, 2,000 packs of cigarettes worth about €10,000, 19 firearms with ammunition, and 11 white‑weapon items such as knives and machetes. The operation identified 27,638 persons, including 1,354 minors, and focused police controls on residential areas and nightlife districts where predatory offences are more common.

Specific checks also uncovered three Bulgarian nationals operating a vehicle linked to repeated market thefts, leading to their removal by immigration officials. Overall, the action aimed to strengthen territorial control, deter future offences and improve public perception of safety.