Copper thefts on the rise, one arrest in Santa Margherita di Belìce

Last Updated: October 11, 2024

Furti di rame in aumento, un arresto a Santa Margherita di Belìce

The Carabinieri of Sciacca, together with those of Castelvetrano (Trapani), arrested a 53-year-old man of Romanian origin, resident in Marsala, suspected of theft, receiving stolen goods, and resisting a public official. To counter the wave of copper thefts that have occurred in the Belicino area, on the border between the provinces of Agrigento and Trapani, the military personnel of the Sciacca company carried out targeted services, also with plainclothes personnel, along the main provincial roads.

Along provincial road 44, in Santa Margherita di Belìce, a suspicious van with people on board was noticed. When ordered to stop, the van and the SUV that was leading it fled and even tried to ram one of the service vehicles. The van driver then lost control of the vehicle, which ended up in a ditch and was subsequently blocked. The men who were in the SUV, after hitting the guardrail, managed to flee on foot through the surrounding countryside.

Subsequent checks by the carabinieri revealed that the group had stolen, from a winery in Salaparuta (Tp), the SUV, over 1500 liters of diesel, cases of wine, and various equipment. The van used had been stolen in Roccamena (Palermo). The stolen goods, with a total value of about 35,000 euros, were returned to the rightful owners. The 53-year-old arrested man, at the request of the Sciacca Prosecutor’s Office, was initially placed under house arrest. The judge has already validated and ordered the precautionary measure of residence obligation in the municipality of residence.