Naples’ Underbelly: The ‘Hole-in-the-Wall Gang’ and the Missing Maps
Naples, Italy – For over half a century, a shadowy criminal enterprise known as the ‘Hole-in-the-Wall Gang’ has plagued Naples, executing audacious heists by burrowing through the city’s labyrinthine underground. Yet, despite 55 years of their illicit activity, the city remains alarmingly vulnerable, lacking crucial investigative maps of its sewer and underground utility networks. This startling revelation comes from Magistrate and city councilor Catello Maresca, who, following a recent bank robbery in Piazza Medaglie d’Oro, delved into historical archives to expose a systemic failure in urban security.
The Genesis of a Problem: 1971 and Beyond
Maresca’s investigation, spurred by the latest incident, traces the gang’s origins back to 1971. “The first documented ‘hole-in-the-wall’ heist in Naples dates back to 1971,” Maresca states, emphasizing that the very term describing this modus operandi originated from these early Neapolitan crimes. “And 55 years later, we are still debating the maps of the sewers and underground utilities to understand the escape routes used by the bandits. In all these years, the only thing that would have served to stop the gang’s escape has not been done.“
This historical oversight is not merely an academic point; it underscores a profound operational deficiency. While technical maps for various underground services undoubtedly exist for utility companies, Maresca highlights the critical absence of a comprehensive mapping system tailored for investigative purposes. “It seems bizarre to me that it doesn’t exist, considering that in recent years, to my memory, these types of heists have recurred with a certain frequency,” he remarks, pointing to a recurring pattern of law enforcement being caught unprepared.
A City ‘Off the Radar’
The magistrate’s concerns extend beyond mere mapping. He paints a picture of a subterranean Naples that operates entirely outside the purview of effective control. “Every time, it seems we are caught off guard when it comes to intervening in such cases, which do not seem isolated at all, and we always find that there are no periodic control systems like there are for the surface,” Maresca explains. “If the underground city is used with such ease for impactful illicit activities, there is a problem. There is a part of the city completely off the radar.“
This lack of oversight creates a fertile ground for criminal elements, allowing them to meticulously plan and execute complex operations that can involve weeks of underground activity. The recent heist, which saw thieves pilfering from numerous safe deposit boxes, highlights the devastating consequences for victims, who, Maresca grimly notes, are unlikely to recover their stolen valuables.
The Stolder Clan and Evolving Threats
Historical context reveals that the Stolder clan were once the specialists in these types of robberies, their intimate knowledge of the sewers making them formidable adversaries. “I remember,” Maresca recounts. “Their activities then diversified, some were arrested, others kept under control. And in the end, other groups emerged, probably in the shadow of this clan.” While confident in the investigative capabilities of the police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office to apprehend those responsible for the latest crime, Maresca stresses the need for proactive measures.
Preventing Future Heists: A Call for Action
Maresca argues vehemently for a shift from reactive arrests to preventative strategies. “For this reason, one should act upstream,” he asserts. “The problem is to understand if there is a way to make life difficult for criminal gangs and protect the many who, as in this case, will hardly – and I’m not saying something more drastic – see their stolen goods again.“
He envisions a future where the city’s underground is secured with modern deterrents: “If there had been camera systems, dissuasive elements, gates, maps linked to possible escape routes, or the identification of obligatory paths that could easily be controlled, we would all have spared ourselves the sad scene of a helpless State, waiting on the street to catch someone who might already be home.” Instead of waiting for specialized units, Maresca believes that activating controls on escape routes could have intercepted the fugitives. “This is the response that an organized structure must try to put together, in the face of a phenomenon that is neither isolated nor infrequent.“
The magistrate’s findings lay bare a critical vulnerability in Naples’ urban fabric, demanding immediate attention to safeguard its citizens and restore confidence in public safety. The question remains: how many more heists will it take for the city to finally map its hidden underworld?
Source: https://napoli.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_aprile_19/catello-maresca-la-banda-del-buco-e-attiva-a-napoli-dal-1971-ma-noi-siamo-senza-mappa-rej324324f37-b06d-f38834197xlk.shtml
