The sacred objects stolen in the Basilica of San Nicola in Bari were found on the night between 21 and 22 March last.
In the burglary, in addition to the change from the offerings, a gold ring, the gospel book with three silver spheres and a medallion containing a vial of the holy manna had been stolen, torn from the hands of the statue of the saint.
The policemen found the objects, ring, gospel book and medallion, hidden inside the cottage in the Japigia district of Bari where the 48-year-old Tunisian Farid Hanzouti was hiding, in prison for two days for the sacrilegious theft.