A 41-year-old Romanian national, believed to be responsible for a series of aggravated and repeated thefts at stores within the San Marino Outlet Experience, has been arrested by the Gendarmerie.
The investigation began after an initial incident last Friday, when the man, according to officers’ reconstruction of events, allegedly stole three pairs of designer sunglasses worth a total of around 600 euros before managing to flee the scene. A review of security camera footage, however, allowed investigators to identify the suspect’s features.
The breakthrough came today, when the 41-year-old returned to the shopping centre. Security staff recognized him and immediately alerted the Joint Operations Centre (Centrale Operativa Interforze).
A patrol from the Gendarmerie’s Rapid Response Unit (Reparto di Pronto Intervento) was dispatched to the scene and intercepted and detained the man. Shortly beforehand, according to investigators, he had stolen six boxes of designer perfume worth approximately 800 euros.
The stolen goods were found inside a shopping bag specially lined to evade anti-theft detection systems. The items were recovered and seized, and will be returned to their rightful owners.
The 41-year-old was then taken to the Gendarmerie Brigade in Serravalle for further inquiries and, following questioning, was formally placed under arrest. On order of the judicial authority, he was subsequently transferred to the Cappuccini Prison, where he remains at the disposal of the investigating magistrate pending validation of the arrest order.
