Busted by a truffle. Only in Italia.

(Translated by TLE from the newspaper “City,” 30 Nov, 2006)

Gourmet Thieves. “Operation Truffle” stops ATM bandits.

Nor only bank surveillance cameras gave away the ATM bandits, but also the most venial of sins, discovered in the massive truffle-based meals in several trattorias in Savigno, consumed in celebration of their hits. No accident then that the police investigation named itself after their favorite tuber, an accomplice in helping defeat the band which specialized in blowing up automated teller machines. The police have attributed to them at least 12 attacks on ATMs, mostly in and around Bologna, but also in Romagna and around Ferrara. The monetary value of their crimes is estimated at around 250,000 euros over the course of a year. The band’s hideout was in a colonial house near Savigno: a peaceful and isolated area, which also happens to be a major truffle center, which the ne’er-do-wells consumed in mass quantity, before ending up in handcuffs.