A Romanian man was arrested in Italy after stealing 2,000 euros from a woman while she was using an ATM

A 30-year-old Romanian man was arrested in the act on Wednesday, September 30, in Bologna after stealing €2,000 from a 69-year-old woman who was carrying out a transaction at an ATM. The man was caught a few dozen meters from the scene, and the entire amount was recovered and returned to the victim.

The incident was observed by a police officer from the Mobile Unit, who noticed the suspect hiding behind garbage containers near an ATM on Andrea Costa Street. The Romanian man was wearing a surgical mask and watching people carrying out banking transactions.

He later went to another ATM on Mezzofanti Street, where he approached the victim. He told her that the machine had a problem and that a card had become stuck, then covered the screen with a sheet of newspaper and withdrew the money.

The police, who had been monitoring him, intervened immediately. The stolen money, additional sums, the sheet of newspaper and several masks were found in his possession. The investigation showed that the man was using an alias and had previous convictions for similar thefts. He was taken to prison and is also subject to a detention order previously issued by the Italian authorities.