At the first light of dawn, the Carabinieri of the Lamezia Terme Company carried out three arrests as part of the operation called “Joker”, bringing to a conclusion a detailed investigation started after the fire of two commercial activities which occurred on the night of May 17th.
A 29-year-old from Lamezia Terme, a 34-year-old from Falerna and a 48-year-old from Cropani ended up in handcuffs, considered seriously suspected of damage following a fire. The restrictive measures were issued by the GIP of the Court of Lamezia Terme, at the request of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The images of the public and private video surveillance systems present in different areas of the city were decisive in tracing the alleged perpetrators, together with the house searches carried out immediately after the events and during the subsequent investigative phases.
According to what was reconstructed by the carabinieri of the Lamezia Terme Sambiase station, the three set fire to a pastry shop and a barber shop located in the city centre, causing extensive damage and putting public safety at risk. In one of the two rooms, in fact, there was a gas cylinder which, if caught by the flames, could have caused a violent explosion.
The investigators, by meticulously analyzing the camera frames, identified some key elements that allowed the perpetrators to be identified. Among these, the detail of a tattoo depicting the Joker’s face, clearly visible in the videos and identical to the one present on the arm of one of the suspects. The entire operation takes its name from this detail. The subsequent searches made it possible to seize the clothing worn on the night of the fires – jackets, t-shirts, trousers and shoes – which were found to correspond perfectly to those filmed by the cameras.
In light of the serious evidence gathered, the investigating judge ordered house arrest with an electronic bracelet against the three suspects, deemed necessary due to the risk of repetition of the crime and the seriousness of the facts, characterized by a high degree of unscrupulousness and an evident contempt for collective safety.