Porto Cervo - The Carabinieri arrested two French nationals on Monday following a dramatic operation on Sardinia's prestigious Costa Smeralda. They are accused of snatching a luxury watch from the wrist of a vacationer in broad daylight. The crime was followed by a cinematic chase that ended with the arrest of the two suspects.
Brazen robbery and a courageous pursuit
The incident occurred in the early afternoon when a woman was on her way home with her family from a walk in the Cala del Faro area. Suddenly, she was attacked from behind by a man who ripped a valuable Rolex watch off her arm and ran to a getaway car where his accomplice was waiting. However, the woman's young daughter did not hesitate for a second, took up the pursuit of the perpetrator and beat him off. When the robber realized that he had been caught, he threw away the watch, which was recovered.
Major manhunt leads to success
The victim immediately alerted the Carabinieri operations center in Olbia and gave a precise description of the getaway vehicle. This triggered an immediate manhunt. A patrol from Porto Cervo managed to locate the car on the SP59 coastal road. After a short pursuit, the perpetrators abandoned their vehicle and tried to escape on foot through the rocky landscape and dense vegetation. However, thanks to the coordinated efforts of patrols from Porto Cervo and Porto Rotondo and the rapid assistance of security guards from the Consorzio Costa Smeralda, both men were apprehended and arrested. After being positively identified by the victim, the suspects were transferred to Sassari-Bancali prison.
