British tourist was fined more than $1000 for taking sand from a beach in Sardinia

9 AUGUST 2018

The beaches in the Italian region of Sardinia are so soft and golden, local authorities have introduced fines of up to €3,000 (around $3,482) for those who try to steal its sands as souvenirs.

A tourist, Naples-born but resident in the UK, was fined the equivalent of more than $1000 when authorities discovered that the visitor had stolen sand from a beach near the Northern city of Olbia, according to local paper L’Unione Sarda.

The woman sent the sand back with an apology note, which read: “I read in some newspapers and heard on the TV what this sand is and how it is made. I understood how unique Sardinia is. I felt guilty.”

Sand thieves are now being warned that they could be fined anywhere from €500 (roughly $580) to €3,000 (roughly $3,482) if they are caught with sand, pebbles or shells taken from Sardinia’s beaches.