Odd News

Italian police arrest Putin namesake

Published: Sept. 5, 2008 at 7:49 PM

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Former Russian President Vladimir Putin answers deputies' questions at the State Duma parliament in Moscow on May 8, 2008. Russian legislators confirmed Vladimir Putin as prime minister Thursday, capping a carefully engineered recast of Russia's leadership a day after he handed the presidency to his protege Dmitry Medvedev. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)

RICCIONE, Italy, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Police in Italy said they thought a Russian shoplifting suspect was giving a fake name when he identified himself as Vladimir Putin -- but he was on the level.

Officers said they checked the 30-year-old suspect's passport and found he shares his name with the Russian prime minister, ANSA reported Friday.

Putin -- the once arrested in Italy -- is accused of stealing from several high-end stores in the resort city of Riccione. He and an accomplice were arrested after Putin was caught on camera hiding clothing items from a store in a bag, police said.

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