A 13-year-old boy in northern Italy allegedly skipped school and robbed a post office using a toy gun, in a case that has shocked the local community. The incident took place in Vigliano Biellese, in the province of Biella, after the boy’s father dropped him off at school as usual. Instead of going into class, the teenager reportedly walked to a nearby town and entered a post office shortly after it had opened.
According to investigators, he threatened a member of staff with what appeared to be a handgun and managed to obtain around €500 in cash before fleeing on foot. His escape, however, was short-lived. After the alarm was raised, Carabinieri were able to trace him quickly thanks in part to information provided by a witness who had seen him running away.
When officers stopped him, the money was still inside his backpack. The toy gun had reportedly been discarded along the route. Because he is under the age of 14, the boy is not criminally liable under Italian law. Authorities are now working to reconstruct the circumstances and motives behind the incident.