Three Arrested in Gravina di Catania for Attempted Post Office Robbery

Police Thwart Robbery Attempt in Gravina di Catania

Gravina di Catania, Italy – Three men were arrested on January 14, 2026, for an attempted robbery at a post office in Gravina di Catania. The swift intervention by the State Police (Polizia di Stato), specifically the Mobile Squad (Squadra Mobile) of the Catania Police Headquarters, led to the apprehension of the suspects and the recovery of a substantial sum of money.

Details of the Attempted Heist

The incident unfolded during the routine reloading of the post office's ATM. Police officers, who had been monitoring suspicious activity, observed a rented car with a falsified license plate and a stolen scooter approaching the post office.

According to reports, two of the suspects, identified by their initials as R.R. (53) and G.M. (29), entered the premises. One of them was seen wearing a white helmet to conceal his identity and carrying a specially crafted L-shaped metal tool designed to force open the anti-panic door. The third accomplice, L.M. (60), waited outside in the rented vehicle, acting as a getaway driver.

The police intervened as the two individuals inside the post office were attempting to steal cash. They were found in possession of a bag containing three plastic ATM cash drawers, which held approximately 150,000 euros. During the arrest, one of the suspects was also found to be carrying a blank-firing pistol.

Arrests and Ongoing Investigation

The three men were immediately taken into custody and have been charged with aggravated attempted robbery in complicity (tentata rapina aggravata in concorso). They were subsequently transferred to Catania's Piazza Lanza prison, where they await judicial proceedings.

Investigators are currently conducting further inquiries to ascertain if the arrested individuals are connected to other similar robberies that have occurred in post offices across the Catania area, employing the same modus operandi.