A bizarre wave of stolen locks and bolts shook Florence in 1887, leading to one of the strangest cases in the city’s criminal history.
In a Florence still scented with lamp oil and fresh varnish on Neo-Renaissance baseboards, the year 1887 brought with it a criminal trend as curious as it was ingenious. This peculiar story — which we’ll call the Lock Theft Florence Mystery — didn’t involve missing jewelry, cut purses, or silver goblets disappearing during grand dinners. Instead, a new and unexpected treasure captivated the local underworld.
A New Kind of Crime
Surprisingly, the loot was… locks. And door bolts.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Within the quiet alleys and half-empty palaces of Florence, nighttime sounds were no longer serenades, but mysterious metallic clack noises. When Florentines awoke to find their doors stripped of locking bolts, confusion reigned. Some blamed hallucinations, others suspected the wind. However, once keyholes — especially those of fine English craftsmanship — began vanishing, suspicions grew. People started whispering: “There’s a method behind this.”
As it turns out, they were right. The case soon became known among locals and in the press as the Lock Theft Florence Mystery.
The Investigation Begins
Faced with this strange phenomenon, the Florentine police, seasoned though they were, found themselves puzzled. Following a series of site visits, an avalanche of official reports, and an investigation worthy of Sherlock Holmes (who, incidentally, was becoming popular in literary circles), they devised a trap. The chosen location was a refined yet rarely visited building at Via della Mattonaia No. 9.
To execute the plan, authorities relied on the building’s servant — a man said to have eyes sharper than those of a customs officer. He was tasked with guarding the entrance with unwavering attention. Then, on an October evening, his vigilance paid off. He caught a man red-handed: Giuseppe G., a carpenter, nonchalantly unscrewing the main door bolt as though it were a bathtub tap.
This turning point revealed the truth behind the Lock Theft Florence Mystery.
The Thieves Revealed
Once brought into custody, Giuseppe initially remained silent. However, after only five minutes, he confessed — not only to his crimes but also to the involvement of two accomplices: Pilade T., a mechanic, and Sebastiano G., a junk dealer. Ironically, the trio possessed the perfect blend of trades to launch a legitimate locksmith business. Unfortunately, their talents were put to less honest use.
Meanwhile, during a search of Sebastiano’s shop, authorities made a shocking discovery. Among wobbly chairs, dusty lamps, and tasteless paintings, a most unusual treasure trove emerged: dozens of bolts, locks, latches, and even two gleaming English keyholes — polished and pristine as the day they were imported.
From that moment, newspapers and citizens began referring to the trio as the “Bolt Gang.” With the mystery solved, police officially closed the file on the Lock Theft Florence Mystery. The three men were promptly taken to the Murate prison and formally charged. According to prison gossip, they even asked if their cells could be locked twice over — ironic, considering the prison’s locks were reportedly the best in Florence.
The Legacy of the Bolt Gang
As a result of this bizarre and cumbersome crime spree, the city of Florence learned that even the humblest of household items could become the target of thieves. Although their crime was laughable in hindsight, the impact lingered. Even today, some Florentine homes still feature gleaming old bolts — a quiet but lasting symbol of the Lock Theft Florence Mystery.
External Links for Further Reading:
- History of Florence’s Murate Prison – Explore the prison where the infamous Bolt Gang ended up.
- The Real Sherlock Holmes – Learn about Sherlock Holmes, whose fame was just beginning as this case unfolded.
- Neo-Renaissance Architecture in Florence – Discover the architectural style that set the background of this 1887 tale.
- Criminal Curiosities from 19th Century Italy – A collection of bizarre crimes and investigations from Italian history (in Italian, with video archives).
