Lapo: 'They stole my ideas'

Theft from the Via Lessolo offices of eyewear producer Italia Independent. Last night, acrobatic thieves broke into the directors' offices at Italia Independent on Via Lessolo. Apparently, the haul was a meager one: a safe containing 800 euros in cash, three laptops and 4 pairs of glasses.

The company is owned by Lapo Elkann and produces the fashion eyewear promoted by the former manager of Fiat in a sensational advertising campaign in Italy and abroad. Eyewear that received immediate acclaim by a vast section of the public. At the outset it seemed that the value of the items stolen was insignificant, but it now appears that industrial espionage may have been behind the robbery. Lapo Elkann himself confirmed this in his company's blog: 'Thieves broke into our offices last night and stole three laptops and four pairs of carbon glasses. But that's not all: they also opened a box containing several pairs of glasses, opened up the various packs and took only the carbon glasses. I therefore maintain that these people stole our ideas and our top product or, at least, the one that is best known. Other items of value like paintings and furniture could have been removed without difficulty, but they were left behind. What they have taken is the original form and final result of our creativity'.

But the manager is not overly concerned and has taken the theft with his proverbial irony: 'Certain negative aspects sometimes conceal other messages that are particularly significant. We discovered this the other morning at Italia Independent. What does it all mean? Perhaps it's proof that creativity is our real main asset and that we all get the thieves we deserve - ours are connoisseurs'. In fact, the way the theft was carried out immediately aroused the suspicions of the investigating officers at the scene. 'It is possible' they said at police HQ, 'that to carry out the theft real professionals were hired who could identify the objective and get to it, in this case on a difficult and dangerous route across roofs'. Although other possibilities have not been ruled out, the police seem to think that industrial espionage is the most likely motive. Lapo's company uses leading-edge technology to manufacture carbon eyewear and Italia Independent patents are regularly deposited and protected by strict company secrecy.

(Source: Torino Cronaca)