"If you see them, call 112." This is the appeal of the Carabinieri of Udine, who suspect that Edmond and Eduard Trushi, Albanians, 38 years old, are the authors of the thefts that occurred in recent months with the "hole in the frame" technique.
The twins of Albanian origin are real specialists: they drill a hole in the frame, then insert a wire with which they open the door or window and sneak into the house to rob it. With this system, they have carried out hundreds of strikes in recent years in the north-east, but also in Piedmont, Lombardy and in some regions of the Center for a total of several hundred thefts.
Almost identical
The problem is that the two are practically identical (same haircut and same tattoos) and it was very difficult to specifically attribute the crime to either of them with DNA analysis alone, since their traces were left at the scene of crime gave uncertain results. However, according to a recent study from the University of Iceland, which confirms an earlier analysis from 2008, even identical homozygous twins have some genetic differences. This was revealed by a University of Iceland study published in 2021 in Nature Genetics, according to which the role of genetic factors in differences between identical twins has been underestimated.
Convictions
Thanks to the similarity of their DNA, they had been acquitted three times, had been on the loose for a long time, and were hastily dubbed the "Lupin Twins" (who was a "gentleman thief" as opposed to the two Albanians who never hesitated to react violently if they were found out). Until more precise techniques, the analysis of their fingerprints, which although homozygous twins, remain different, their movements tracked by cell phones and wiretapping, made it possible to discover them and reach the conviction in 2020 by the Court of Mantova with 2 years and 2 months.
They had previously received two other sentences in Pordenone: the first for 6 years and 10 months and the second on appeal for 5 years and 5 months for 41 thefts. They had also received a deportation order from Italy. In 2014, the carabinieri managed to find DNA on a stolen and abandoned car near Sacile after a long chase.
Those traces led to Eduard Trushi, but in the trial held in 2016 he was declared innocent as it was not possible "beyond a reasonable doubt" to determine which of the two was at the wheel. In fact, the investigation had revealed that the twins' genetic makeup was very similar and would require further analysis, a forensic expert claimed. In July 2015, their house in Castiglione delle Stiviere, in the province of Mantova, was searched, where around 300,000 euros of stolen goods, 24,000 euros in cash, Rolex, diamonds, other jewelry and electronic devices were found.
The investigations,
however, seem to have returned and have given the criminal organization a leg up. Investigators are looking for them as "suspected perpetrators" of new thefts. The commander of the investigative unit of the Regional Command of the Carabinieri of Udine confirmed to Corriere various reports against them and that investigations are underway.