Historic Moped Recovered by Italian Police
A moped stolen in 1984 from a northern Italian town has been located and returned to its original owner after more than four decades. The dark grey Garelli, now considered vintage, was identified by police in Volpiano, a suburb of Turin, during a routine roadside check.
The police stopped a 64-year-old man who was riding the scooter without a licence plate, which raised suspicion. Americo Celani, commander of the Carabinieri in Volpiano, explained the circumstances:
“This guy was riding this scooter without a licence plate and so he was stopped. This gave us an indication that something was wrong.”
The absence of a licence plate was a key detail, as registration was not legally required for 50cc mopeds in Italy until 1994, ten years after the vehicle was stolen. The moped belonged to Antonio Smiglio and was taken from outside his home in Vado Ligure, a town in the Liguria region where his family resided.
Police matched the moped by examining the details on its frame and consulting various past reports. Celani stated:
“So through that we traced the fact that this moped had been stolen 42 years ago.”
The man found riding the moped was charged with possession of a stolen item, although he was not implicated as the original thief.
Owner Reunited with Long-Lost Moped
After the recovery, Smiglio, who now lives in Saluzzo near Cuneo in the Piedmont region, was contacted by the police. He recalled his initial reaction:
“When the police called to tell me they had found it, I immediately thought it was a joke.”
The moped had significant personal value to Smiglio. He purchased it as a 16th birthday gift to himself in August 1984, paying in instalments with money earned from working in a bar and doing odd jobs.
“It felt like I owned a Kawasaki,”
he said, referring to the Japanese manufacturer of high-speed motorbikes.
In December 1984, the moped, along with several others, was stolen from where it had been locked outside his home. At that time, since mopeds did not have licence plates, Smiglio noted:
“It was a bit like stealing a bike. How much I cried.”
Initially, he was concerned about collecting the vehicle, fearing it might have been scrapped. However, the moped was found to be in good condition. After some repairs, Smiglio plans to ride it again along the Ligurian coast.
