In a chilling incident in Caivano, near Naples, a 45-year-old foreign man attempted to abduct a five-year-old boy from his mother as they left a supermarket. The situation escalated when the man, visibly intoxicated, shouted that the child was not hers and lunged to take him away. The quick thinking of the mother, along with her friend, led them to retreat back into the store, which prompted the suspect to flee the scene before a cashier intervened. Fortunately, no physical harm was reported to the child or the mother.

This episode mirrors a recent similar event in Bergamo, where a homeless man attempted to abduct a one-and-a-half-year-old girl, resulting in her injury during the struggle. The authorities are taking these incidents very seriously; the carabinieri are investigating by reviewing surveillance footage to identify and apprehend the suspect. This pattern of attempted child abductions raises significant alarm within local communities and highlights the growing concerns about public safety, particularly for families.

The frequency of these events provokes a broader conversation about safety in public spaces in Italy, particularly in supermarkets where families often frequent. As fears mount, there are calls for increased vigilance and preventive measures to protect children. These disturbing occurrences could lead to heightened tensions and fear among parents, potentially altering how families engage in daily activities such as grocery shopping, which once felt safe and routine.