More arrests, fewer apartment thefts: but Rome always ranks first in Italy B.B. Band, August "cleaning" In 1996 eighty robberies less than in 1995, according to ISTAT, during August holidays Maybe there's neither Scrooge's multi-millionaire depot nor Rockerduck's bank to be ransacked, but in August, Rome is full of "B.B. Bands". According to the data issued by the Ministry of the Interior, and processed by ISTAT, the capital city, with 644 apartment thefts in August 1996, and 724 apartment thefts in 1995, is the city where the highest number of apartments are robbed every summer, followed by Milan, Turin, Genoa, Palermo, Naples and Bari. However, in the early months of last summer the percentage of apartment thefts dropped by eleven per cent. Moreover, Nicoḷ D'Angelo, chief of the Flying Squad, has revealed that arrests have increased as well: "We have a unit specialized in crime-repressing activities; many thieves have been arrested, apartment thieves caught red-handed by plain-clothes agent patrols. This is an easier way to monitor possible targets, such as banks and shops. The plain-clothes investigator doesn't attract attention, and the thief finds himself handcuffed without even realizing it." The chief of the Flying Squad is satisfied. This trap always works, both with the improvised pilferer and the thief by profession "The figure of Arsenio Lupin, of Fantomas, has almost disappeared. Apartment thieves are almost always nomads or addicts." Searching into his memory, D'Angelo recalls: "Some years ago we were hunting for a professional thief, in the Camilluccia district. He successfully robbed an apartment almost every night. We finally arranged with the door man of a building to take turns pretending to be him". So, when the Camilluccia's Arsenio Lupin robbed the "hundredth" apartment, a pair of handcuffs were waiting for him. But, apart from cutting down on crime and arresting thieves, the police have to prevent apartment thefts as well. "Rino Monaco, police commissary, has made a point out of prevention", explains Antonio Del Greco, chief of the police operational headquarters: "Patrols have been strengthened, eighty cars a shift, with policemen, carabinieri and customs officers taking turns to roam the city's streets. Seeing law-enforcement agents everywhere in districts certainly discourages apartment thieves. Rome is a difficult city, with some 1,200 bank counters to control and 60,000 shops, not to mention blocks of buildings that remain almost empty in summer. All that on a surface that is equivalent to nine capitals of province put together". Such districts as Prenestino, Appio-Tuscolano, Salario-Nomentano and Tiburtino are more at risk than others, because they are heavily populated and swarming with shops. Eur, Aurelia, Cassia, Parioli and Monteverde are relatively "calm". This classification, however, is purely indicative. Preventing thefts and robberies in Rome, indeed, means sweating blood. "Despite anything", continues Del Greco, "apartment thefts have decreased sharply". The police officer has some suggestions for those who leave the city: "Install a certified security system and have it connected to the police or carabinieri department. If a thief should break into your house, the alarm will soon alert police headquarters. This service is free, all you have to do is ask for necessary information at the district police or carabinieri stations, and file an application form".