The Public Prosecutor's Office of Napoli Nord is conducting an investigation into car thefts followed by demands for money in exchange for the return of the vehicles. The proceeding involves 23 people under investigation.
According to the accusatory case reported by Il Mattino, numerous episodes were attributed to the alleged scheme known as the "cavallo di ritorno." The prosecutor named in the report is Corrado Caputo.
The central allegation is straightforward: after a vehicle is stolen, the victim is asked to pay to get it back. The investigation concerns thefts of cars and subsequent requests for payment for restitution in the Naples provincial area.
What "cavallo di ritorno" means in legal terms
In legal terms, the "cavallo di ritorno" is treated as extortion. The person responsible for the theft demands money as a condition for returning the stolen property.
That classification matters because it distinguishes the conduct from simple theft. The second demand — payment for return — is the extortion element.
The Constitutional Court, in judgment 120/2023, addressed sentencing for extortion. The Court held that the penalty for extortion may be reduced by up to one-third when, because of the manner of the conduct or the limited extent of the harm and danger, the offense is of minor seriousness.
A separate 2019 investigation in Naples, Casoria and Afragola
The phenomenon had already been the subject of a separate investigation in 2019 involving Naples, Casoria and Afragola. That case concerned stolen cars and organized vehicle-theft activity, with six suspects subjected to coercive measures.
That 2019 investigation is distinct from the Napoli Nord proceeding described by Il Mattino. The available research does not establish any connection between the two cases.
The earlier case nevertheless provides local context: investigators in the Naples area have previously reconstructed thefts in which vehicles were taken and later returned after payment.
What is not yet public
Despite the headline reference to "all the names," the acquired text of the Il Mattino report does not include the complete list of the 23 people under investigation.
The acquired material also does not provide the individual charges, the specific role attributed to each suspect, or whether precautionary measures have been ordered in the Napoli Nord proceeding.
The allegations remain at the investigation stage. Being under investigation does not amount to a final finding of responsibility.
