Many years ago a French noblewoman was robbed of an expensive fur and a precious necklace in front of the palace of Prince Lanza di Trabia. The following day the noblewoman was presented with nine furs and nine necklaces which did not include those stolen from her. The thief was a solo operator, and it was necessary to wait in order to recover the stolen goods. In fact, after a few days the necklace was found in the possession of a fence, and the fur was found in Canicattia year later. The mafia had spread the word. It took time to trace the goods, but the stolen articles were reported as soon as they surfaced.(La Stampa, September 4, 1989)

Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Busi…, loc. 436