Tourist faces aggravated theft charge after taking stones from Pompeii

Recently, Italian officials apprehended a 51-year-old tourist from Scotland, after stealing five stones and a brick fragment from the world-renowned archeological site of Pompeii. The police released a statement stating that the man “is in trouble” and under investigation for aggravated theft.

Pompeii is a Roman city near modern Naples, Italy, that was covered in volcanic ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The volcanic ash preserved buildings, objects, and even people. This site allows people to glimpse into ancient Roman homes, shops, temples, and theaters. Pompeii will enable millions of tourists to look into the daily lives of people back in ancient times and see how they lived.

According to the police statement, the man was spotted by a tour guide as he was picking up “pieces of pavement from one of the streets of the ancient city” and putting them in his backpack. The tour guide then informed site employees and security, allowing them to contact the police and track down the tourist at a train station nearby. The stones and brick fragments were found in the man’s backpack.

A spokesman for the Carabinieri in Naples spoke later about what the tourist had initially said: “his son had taken them because he collects rocks and he didn’t know it was illegal to pick up stones in Pompeii.” An unnamed officer also spoke about the matter to the London Times, stating, “He said he had no idea it was forbidden to remove artifacts from Pompeii,” and that “He was trying to get out of trouble, but it did not work. If everyone wandered off with a piece of Pompeii, there would be nothing left.”

The items were returned to the streets of Pompeii. The man, due to being under investigation for aggravated theft, may face between one and six years of jail time and a maximum fine of up to $1700.

Despite a couple of stones not seeming like something that is very valuable, police still call these small pieces from Pompeii a “precious treasure”.

This incident is a reminder that sites like Pompeii are protected to a great extent, with a small act of picking up stones being considered for an aggravated theft charge. As millions of tourists travel to see these wondrous sites, they are expected to have respect and responsibility along with their curiosity.