Roman Gang Raids Spanish Jewelers: Over Half Million Euros Stolen, Four Arrested
Rome, April 14 – A criminal gang based in Rome, responsible for a series of audacious jewelry store thefts across Spain amounting to over half a million euros, has been dismantled, leading to the arrest of four individuals. The arrests, made in Palencia, Spain, are the culmination of a decade-long investigation involving close cooperation between Italian and Spanish police forces.
The four suspects, all residents of Rome, are currently held in Palencia, approximately 240 kilometers from Madrid. They face charges for at least 21 thefts committed in various Spanish cities, including Asturias, Logroño, Murcia, Valencia, Almería, Albacete, Badajoz, Alicante, Seville, Castellón, and Granada. The total value of the stolen goods is estimated to exceed 500,000 euros.
A Decade of Deception: The Modus Operandi
The gang’s method was consistently sophisticated and relied on distraction techniques. Typically, two female members would enter a jewelry store, with one distracting the salesperson while the other deftly snatched entire display trays of jewelry. These trays, laden with rings, necklaces, pendants, earrings, and bracelets, would be covered with a handbag or even a handkerchief placed on the counter, making the theft virtually imperceptible to the unsuspecting staff.
Security cameras in the targeted establishments captured the Roman thieves’ actions, revealing their intimate knowledge of Spanish jewelers’ habits. This expertise allowed them to become a persistent nightmare for store owners across the country.
Cross-Border Collaboration Cracks the Case
The complexity of the crimes eventually led Spanish investigators to seek assistance from the Roman Mobile Squad, led by Roberto Pititto. Information gathered in the Italian capital proved crucial, providing Spanish colleagues with the necessary leads to identify and apprehend the first suspect, then an accomplice, and finally the remaining two members of the criminal group. Two other individuals are also under investigation.
Identifying the perpetrators was challenging due to their operational strategy: the gang would spend only a few days in Spain for each heist, typically no more than five, before returning to Rome. They meticulously avoided leaving traces in hotels, frequently changed mobile phones and vehicles, and covered hundreds of kilometers daily.
The investigation into the gang dates back to 2012, following a similar heist in Zaragoza. On that occasion, one of the three women now arrested was apprehended, revealing her involvement in a wider network of jewelry thefts across Europe. A key observation for investigators was the consistent presence of a gang member in the vicinity of each robbed store.
On March 30, acting on intelligence from the Roman Mobile Squad, Spanish agents intercepted all four suspects in Palencia as they were preparing for another operation, preventing them from carrying out further thefts.
Those Arrested
The individuals arrested by Spanish authorities, with the participation of agents from the Italian Police’s Central Operations Service, have been identified as Daniele Rizzi, 64, Katia Kariba, 63, from Marseille but residing in Rome, Laila Carbone, 57, and Sharon Losetto, 38.
This significant breakthrough underscores the effectiveness of international police cooperation in combating organized crime. The magistrates in Rome are not expected to request extradition as the crimes were committed in Spain, but the investigation’s pivotal turning point occurred in the Italian capital, where the gang’s hideout was located.
