Looters prey on Costa Concordia wreck

GROSSETO, Italy, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Scuba-diving looters have been removing items from the wreck of the cruise ship Costa Concordia that ran aground off Tuscany Jan. 13, Italian authorities said.

Prosecutors in the Tuscan city of Grosseto are investigating the disappearance of a number of items from the semi-submerged liner including the ship's brass bell, pictures, clocks and various items of furniture, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Police divers also noticed that the looters also broke shop windows and apparently stole jewelry and watches.

Thirty-two people died and dozens of others were injured when the Costa Concordia hit a reef off the Italian coast and ran aground near the island of Giglio.