Crowd helps thief flee police (2)

(ANSA) - Palermo, April 29 - A group of residents and some shopkeepers in Palermo's high-crime Kalsa quarter on Friday helped a thief escape from police. The officers were surrounded by the crowd and the robber managed to make off. An accomplice was stopped by police and found with a loaded handgun. The officers fired into the air to disperse the crowd. There have been similar, isolated incidents over the years in Palermo and Naples.