Dozens of people in Sicily are
suspected of intentionally crashing their cars to collect
insurance money, police said Tuesday.
Investigators say 81 suspects, including two lawyers,
turned an area in northwest Sicily into a virtual demolition
derby, where hundreds of cars were crashed in order to file
fraudulent claims worth nearly half a million euros.
Much of the destruction was caught on tape, police said.
The alleged mastermind of the ring was Vincenzo Nobile, who
police said used friends and family members to recruit
participants.
Part of the scheme involved bashing the same vehicle
several times but with different license plates.
Police confiscated a warehouse full hoods, fenders, bumpers
and other car parts outside the wrecking field, which was
protected by high walls and barbed wire.
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