Roman retired robbers arrested after 50 years “in office” Munich Security Conference: What the meeting means for Ukraine

The approach to the robberies by the criminals was usually the same: 77-year-old Raniero P., the eldest of the gang, made key copies of the back entrance of the burglary object – usually a post office. Italo D., 71 years old and head of the criminals, and 68-year-old Sandro B. were able to enter the building without any problems.

During the night, two younger accomplices known as ‘the masons’ punched a hole in the wall from an adjacent room, through which the two older semesters then approached the counters from behind. Thanks to the surprise effect, the criminals were able to get the money so quickly and disappear just as quickly.

But now the trio around Italo D., known as “il Tedesco” (the German) because of their precision during the raids, have been arrested. A great success for the Roman carabinieri, because Italo D. is considered a legend of the underworld in the Eternal City.

As early as 1971, “il Tedesco” was arrested for thefts and robberies. In 1995 he achieved national fame when, as part of a group, he robbed a bank in the middle of the Roman ancient city in Piazza di Spagna and took fifteen hostages.

But his accomplices are also not unknown figures: the other retired robbers have also been criminals for decades, but the trio has only been working together in this constellation for a few years. The gentlemen had used a family bar in eastern Rome as a ‘base’, where they could plan their raids undisturbed.

“A constant in Rome”

The gang stole approximately 200,000 euros during a raid on a post office last May. Two other raids in the same year failed.

The trio and especially Italo D. enjoy a certain sympathy among the population and the media, especially because he never hurt anyone’s hair during his attacks. The ‘Corriere della Sera’ wrote almost admiringly about how precisely and conscientiously the 71-year-old planned his actions despite prostate problems and diabetes in adulthood: ‘It is a constant in Rome that the old outlaws never retire.’

And the Roman police also honored the criminals in their own way: the arrest operation was aptly named “Vecchie Glorie” – old glory.

(cpf)