Car thieves' gang busted: here's how the San Severo theft center operated. ALL THE NAMES.

In a joint operation, the Carabinieri of San Severo and Termoli, in the province of Campobasso, executed a precautionary custody order issued by the Foggia prosecutor's office against 20 suspects, all from the Capitanata area, charged with aggravated theft, receiving stolen goods, money laundering, and illegal possession of a concealed weapon. The investigation, coordinated by the Foggia prosecutor's office, is part of an operation conducted by the San Severo unit in February 2024, which led to the adoption of restrictive precautionary measures against 19 individuals involved in car thefts. They are accused of conspiracy to commit robberies, thefts, and money laundering of motor vehicles, and possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Subsequent investigations revealed how three men arrested in that operation, first from prison and then from their homes where they were under house arrest, reorganized their criminal activities, fueling the illicit market for stolen cars and spare parts.

The following were arrested: Giuseppe Castriotta, 22, from Foggia; Vincenzo Castriotta, 21, from Foggia; Mario Coda, 33, from Foggia; Antonio Colio, 27, from Torremaggiore; Gianluca Gallo, 33, from San Severo; Michele Lombardi, 26, from Termoli; Mario Mazzeo, 36, from San Severo. Danila Lacontana, 41, from Foggia; Michele Martino, 45, from Foggia; Valentino Boldemonte, 36, from San Severo; and Simone Bruno, 21, from Foggia. Samuel Annecchini, 22, from Foggia; Giovanni Caposeno, 38, from San Severo; Orlando Carlomagno, 41, from Foggia; Rocco Di Tullo, 52, from Foggia; Serhit Fedorchuk, 31, a Ukrainian national residing in San Severo; Iulian Galan, 20, a Romanian national residing in San Severo; Francesco Paoletti, 36, of San Severo; and Vincenzo Riccardo, 63, of Troia.

Carabinieri operations have documented the operations of two criminal groups dedicated to the theft of vehicles, which were then transported to San Severo or surrounding towns for resale or dismantling for spare parts. Monitoring of mechanics' workshops and car dismantling yards adjacent to the suspects' premises also allowed them to reconstruct the operations of concealing the stolen cars and dismantling the parts for resale. These operations primarily took place in an unauthorized location, where license plates and chassis were also modified to hinder identification. A total of 28 thefts of cars and commercial vehicles were reported between July and September 2024 in various regions, including Puglia, Abruzzo, Molise, Marche, and Campania. According to the reconstruction that emerged from the investigation, the suspects were allegedly equipped with equipment suitable for committing thefts, such as OBD control units and burglary tools, and received a compensation of 100 euros for each stolen car.

During the operation, 24 vehicles, 8 vans, engines, and mechanical parts from dozens of cars were seized, with a total value of approximately €1 million. They also seized a warehouse in San Severo, used for vehicle dismantling. The Carabinieri also reconstructed the theft of a car by a minor from Foggia, who tragically died in a traffic accident while driving the stolen vehicle, which he allegedly lost control of while filming himself live on social media.