Crime podcast “Under Suspicion” (1/3)

Like Bonnie and Clyde – a Swiss pair of crooks on a thieving spree in Italy

The latest case in our true crime podcast highlights the cinematic life of a Swiss criminal who traveled through Italy in the 1950s.

Published: October 1, 2024, 3:52 p.m

Illustration: Thomas Weyres

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Italy in the 1950s: A young Swiss pair of petty criminals – Werner Rudolf Meier and Bibsi Haller (name changed) – travel through the country. Genoa, Sanremo, Venice, along the Adriatic coast in the south. Sometimes the two bathers steal, sometimes they steal 300,000 lire (approx. 2,000 francs) when they steal the hotel cash register at a reception. In the evenings they squander their money, enjoy life and celebrate their love. A bit like Bonnie and Clyde.

In Rome they meet a dark figure, a young Italian who promises them big money. Now there are armed robberies at gas stations. Soon the police are on their trail. Werner Rudolf Meier gets deeper and deeper into crime; he is no longer just a petty criminal. It’s only a matter of time before things escalate.

Our reporter Andreas Tobler researched this historical case and, in conversation with presenter Sara Spreiter, tells how Werner Rudolf Meier went from being a young person from a difficult background to becoming a criminal. Forensic psychologist May Beyli also explains the dynamics behind such involvement in increasingly violent crimes.

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topicnews · October 1, 2024

Crime podcast “Under Suspicion” (1/3) | Basel newspaper

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