Italian police investigate separate thefts of an elderly woman's wallet in Bologna and a €15,000 watch at Cataniaairport

In Bologna, police arrested a 67‑year‑old homeless man after he pretended to help an 82‑year‑old woman retrieve her missing wheelchair, then violently seized the cash from her wallet. The stolen money was recovered and returned to the victim, and the suspect was charged with aggravated theft and violating a court‑ordered residence order.

In Catania, a 73‑year‑old man was charged with aggravated theft after video evidence showed him take a luxury watch valued at about €15,000 from another traveller’s belongings in the airport security area. He later boarded a flight to Milan, where officials in Linate identified him and recovered the watch, returning it to its owner.