Four commercial businesses in Scafati were burgled within a few days between the previous weekend and 29 September 2026, renewing concern among shop owners and prompting a new appeal for reinforcements from the mayor.
According to Metropolis Web, one of the four cases had already resulted in an arrest, while investigations were continuing into the other three. The identities of the person arrested and of those suspected in the outstanding cases were not disclosed in the reporting, and the exact locations and financial losses were not specified.
Mayor Pasquale Aliberti asked the Prefect of Salerno for more patrols, arguing that three patrols covering the area from Cava de' Tirreni to Scafati were insufficient. His quoted assessment was: «Tre pattuglie in più non bastano».
The mayor also said municipal surveillance footage could help identify those responsible for the recent burglaries.
A renewed appeal after an earlier security meeting
The latest request follows an earlier effort to bring the issue to the prefectural level. Metropolis Web had previously reported that the prefect convened a security meeting after complaints about thefts, robberies and disorder in Scafati.
In that broader discussion, the mayor argued that cameras alone were insufficient without more personnel and regular patrols, opening a debate over whether surveillance technology can compensate for insufficient physical policing.
Decline in reported crime, but concern remains
Earlier official figures presented to the mayor indicated an overall decline in reported crime of roughly 30% during the first eight months of 2026 compared with previous years.
The same figures reportedly indicated a decline of up to 60% in burglaries targeting commercial premises.
Those reductions refer to offences that were reported and recorded. They do not establish the actual prevalence of unreported incidents, and the four recent cases have refocused attention on the pressure still felt by local businesses.
Surveillance and staffing plans
The municipality reported approximately 130 surveillance cameras in place, with plans for further investment in surveillance and additional municipal police recruitment.
No independent operational confirmation was available regarding the number, deployment or availability of the three patrols cited by the mayor.
For the three cases still under investigation, the available sources do not establish whether further arrests have since been made. Municipal footage is described as potentially aiding identification, with outcomes dependent on the ongoing investigations.
