Scots tourist could be jailed for stealing from historic European site
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A SCOTS tourist has been reported for theft after he was caught with artefacts from the ancient city of Pompeii.
The man, 51, was stopped by Italian Carabinieri police after a guide saw him put fragments from a brick and five stones lifted from the UNESCO World Heritage Site in his backpack.
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The holidaymaker, 51, was reported to police after lifting artefacts from the ruins of Pompeii in Italy
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The city's ruins are well-preserved after they were covered in tonnes of volcanic ash
Credit: getty
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Archaeologists have used plaster and resin to recreate human figures who were trapped under the debris when Mount Vesuvius erupted
Credit: CARLO HERMANN/AFP via Getty Images
He could face trial and a fine of up to £1,300 and six years in prison if convicted.
Locals say those who take treasures from the site are hexed after tourists who helped themselves to ancient items suffered a series of misfortunes.
A police spokesman said: "This week we caught a Scotsman before he could get away but we may have saved him from the curse.
"He said he had no idea it was forbidden to remove artefacts from Pompeii.
"He was trying to get out of trouble but it did not work."
Officials say the man was stopped near a train station after lifting pieces of the ancient ruins during a night-time tour on Thursday.
Pompeii near Naples was home to up to 20,000 people until volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted sending scorching 250°C ash clouds across the city in 79AD.
The mountains of debris helped preserve the site, which is visited by 2.5million tourists each year.
Tonnes of volcanic ash protected the settlement's buildings until archaeologists could unearth its basilica and temples.
The Tragic History of Pompeii
Voids left by human bodies which were trapped underneath have been filled with plaster and resin to recreate figures trapped by the disaster.
Up to 20,000 visitors each day come to see them.
An American woman who took two stones from Pompeii in 2011 says she got stage 3 breast cancer and her marriage collapsed prompting her to return the items.
In 2020, a Canadian posted mosaic tiles and ceramics she had taken to a travel agent in the city claiming she suffered from bad luck, including two bouts of serious illness and financial problems.
And in 2015, an English tourist returned a fragment of an art work her parents lifted decades earlier claiming it had brought years of misfortune.
Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director general of the archaeological park in Pompeii, said: 'Congratulations and thanks to the attentive tour guide, to our excellent custodians and security staff, and to the Carabinieri for this collaborative effort to protect our heritage.
'Controls will be reinforced in the coming days due to the high influx of visitors during the summer.'
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