25-year-old Italian thief, Nunzio The Gelfo, was arrested in Palermo by the State police after he snatched a gold necklace from a Spanish tourist. The victim with his wife arrived in Palermo on a cruise ship and decided to take a walk along Via Roma where they were violently disturbed by a thief who crossed their path.

The criminal, who walked in the opposite direction, suddenly hurled against the couple, snatching the gold necklace with pendant around man’s neck. A man nearby, who had witnessed the crime tried to prevent the escape, by hitting the thief with his leg.

The police quickly responded to the scene and found the robber near the Central Station, where after identifying a person whose appearance matched that of the robber described by the Operational Centre. Gelfo attempted an escape on foot but after a short chase, the officers were able to arrest the man, and recover the necklace taken from the victim.

According to the Palermo Cruise ship schedule the only ship in the port on November 22 , was Holland America Line’s MS Veendam.