A rearview mirror scam escalates into a robbery in the Oristano area, with the victim forced to return home and take all the money available before being taken back to the scene of the never-ending accident.
The episode occurred in the morning on State Road 442, in the direction of Usellus-Assolo . A 90-year- old man was traveling in his car when he was stopped by a boy who had simulated an accident, making him believe he had damaged the mirror.
The most classic of scams, in short. The unfortunate victim was convinced that he was responsible for the damage and, to avoid involving insurance companies and the police, decided to give them the cash he had with him, 300 euros . This time, however, the scammer was not satisfied with the money, so he grabbed the old man, threatened him ("If you call the police I'll drown you") and forced him to get into his car. Then the two went to the ninety-year-old's home, who was forced to hand over all the cash in his possession, another 500 euros . That's not all: the scammer, not satisfied, also asked for gold and jewelry, but the victim didn't have any and so he gave up. Only then did he take the old man back to the scene of the fake accident and then drive away in a hurry.
The man, in shock, still managed to partially note the license plate number and identify the model of the car , and called the police. The military of Mogoro, analyzing the images from the cameras, identified the vehicle, belonging to a man living in a caravan in the gypsy camp of Quartucciu .
At this point the Carabinieri of the Quartu Sant'Elena Operations Unit intervened, locating the caravan and finding the young man with the tattooed arm described by the victim . Searching him, they recovered the 800 euros and returned them to the ninety-year-old. The young nomad, however, was arrested and taken to the Uta prison , where he awaits the validation hearing.
(Unioneonline/L)
