GROSSETO. It is around 2.30 in the night between Monday and Tuesday when two men appear within the range of one of the external cameras of the La Favorita pastry shop, in the heart of San Martino. Dressed in dark and with their heads covered, they approach on foot with a sure step. Of normal build, each of them holds a crowbar in his hand. A specific goal in mind; far too precise.
The two criminals soon use them to unhinge one of the windows of the room overlooking the Scansanese, in a real raid. «As soon as they entered the alarm went off. In 23 seconds they reached the cash register and took away the drawer, but they also took the envelope with the evening’s proceeds”, confirms Fabio Pettorali, 38 years old, owner of the store who opened nine years ago with his own savings and of the family.
There is a problem. The cash register is, by definition, in plain sight: it must be immediately within reach of any customer, but – even if this were not the case – finding it is not that difficult. The question of the envelope is different, very different. «That evening I was out for work. Whoever had remained in the shop had left me the evening’s proceeds, well hidden”, underlines Pettorali, who then adds: “I can imagine that someone observed, perhaps from outside, where the envelope was placed”.
It is impossible to suspect help from within. Among the employees, about ten in total, there is also her partner: La Favorita is a large family that is preparing to celebrate their first ten years together.
Yesterday morning, Pettorali’s father went to file a complaint with the police. Around 200 euros disappeared from the cash register drawer, another around 5-600 along with the envelope with the evening’s proceeds. The man also handed over the camera footage to the military; including those inside the store. It is difficult, however, to trace the identity of the criminals from those few frames.
«The area is quiet, and in nine years of activity nothing like this had ever happened to us», says the owner, who the day after the discovery – having overcome the initial shock – rolled up his sleeves to go back to work; among the demonstrations of closeness of many customers. But then, precisely in this regard, he goes on to say that «some people told me that in Casalecci it is something that often happens. But go and find out.”
To the approximately 800 euros of the theft, Pettorali will now have to add more money from his own pocket: «The window has already been repaired, now we’re waiting for them to send us the bill», he confirms.
