Sicily Scene: NABBED

A man suspected of collecting protection money for the Mafia received a seasonal surprise on Christmas Eve when he was arrested – by Santa Claus.

The man was being watched by an undercover policeman dressed as Santa as he collected the money from a Catania shopkeeper who had been the victim of a Mafia extortion racket for some years. “Santa” was distributing sweets to children outside the shop but dropped some just before he pounced on the man, who was about to drive off. Other police officers who had been waiting nearby then arrived on the scene.

The police had placed hidden cameras both inside and outside the shop. The shopkeeper, who did not know that his premises were being watched, admitted to having paid protection money for over a decade.

At the time of his arrest, the suspected mafioso was carrying a ceramic dish, 200 euros and a panettone which he had allegedly obtained by extortion from a nearby bar. I wonder if he enjoyed the panettone in jail?