Italian cops nab rose-leaving robber

GENOA, Italy, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Police in Genoa, Italy, say they have captured an apologetic robber who regularly presented his victims with red roses.

Authorities said the robber, identified by his initials, R.F., told police leaving flowers after holding up shopkeepers with a toy gun was a means of making amends for his crimes, ANSA reported Monday.

''It's a way of saying sorry,'' he said.

Police said they were able to find the gift-giving thief by following the trail of roses he left in his wake. They said he was arrested in possession of two cellophane-wrapped roses they believe he was planning to present to two post-office cashiers he allegedly was preparing to rob.

Investigators said R.F. also is suspected of emptying a bank safe inside a city hospital in 2007. They said all of the money from the safe was taken and a bouquet of flowers was left in its place.