Italy crime: theft ring and attempted abduction reported

Two separate criminal incidents have been reported in Italy involving children.

In Bologna, a couple was charged with aggravated theft and receiving stolen goods after using their one-year-old child's stroller to conceal stolen items. Local police observed the woman hiding a knife set in the stroller's storage net. The pair also targeted a clothing store, where they reportedly passed the child between them to mask the man's movements while he hid stolen trousers under his jacket. Social services intervened to ensure the well-being of the infant.

In Marano di Napoli, a 45-year-old man was identified and charged after attempting to abduct a five-year-old child. The incident occurred near the child's home as they were returning from school. The man reportedly grabbed the child by the arm and urged them to follow him, saying, “Vieni con me, ti vuole un signore” (Come with me, a gentleman wants you). The child's mother intervened by shouting, which caused the suspect to flee. Carabinieri investigators identified the man, who was already known to law enforcement.