DURRËS, Albania — More than 350 pool loungers stolen from an Italian swimming club have been discovered two years later at a beach resort in Cape Rodon (Capo Rodoni), near Durrës, in a case that has sparked cross-border legal action.
The loungers disappeared overnight in June 2024 from the Onde Chiare swimming facility in Reggio Emilia, Italy. At the time, the theft of all 350 sunbeds—worth more than €45,000—left the club stunned, with no immediate trace of the missing equipment, Italian media say.
The unexpected discovery was made by a woman from Reggio Emilia while vacationing in Albania. While visiting a beach resort at Cape Rodon, she recognized the loungers because they still displayed the Onde Chiare logo.
Remembering media reports about the theft, she photographed the loungers and emailed the images to the managers of the Italian swimming club, alerting them to the remarkable find.
After receiving the photographs, Alberto Costoli and Enrico Cavazzoni, who manage the Onde Chiare facility, immediately contacted attorney Gianluca Dallari to begin legal proceedings aimed at recovering the stolen property.
The equipment, valued at more than €45,000, is now at the center of legal efforts involving authorities in both Italy and Albania.
The managers said they briefly considered traveling to Albania to retrieve the loungers themselves but ultimately decided to pursue the matter through official legal channels.
It remains unclear how the stolen loungers were transported from Italy to Albania or whether the beach resort knowingly purchased stolen property. Authorities are expected to investigate the chain of possession as the legal process continues.