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Spare parts trafficking: dismantled vehicles in the middle of the street
In recent months, hundreds of motorists have had the bad experience of finding their vehicle completely broken down. From now on, thieves attack cars day and night to fuel the very lucrative spare parts trade.
(France 2)
In recent months, hundreds of motorists have had the bad experience of finding their vehicle completely broken down. Now, thieves attack cars day and night to fuel the very lucrative spare parts trade.
On a surveillance camera at three in the morning, a white car enters a parking lot in Île-de-France. Two individuals get out and quickly inspect a black vehicle parked right next to it. Then, they finally strip the bumper, take it on board and leave in less than 10 minutes. At the scene, the robbed owner found his black car vandalized as he was getting ready to go to work. Two months without a car, 10,000 euros in repairs reimbursed by the insurance, this is the third time in two years that the owner of the car has had spare parts stolen.
Theft of headlights, wheels, bench seats or dashboards… complaints from motorists are flooding social networks. Acts which have increased in recent months: the theft of spare parts increased by 11% between July and August 2024, with criminals taking advantage of a shortage of spare parts. They use dry ice to erase their prints, a characteristic of organized gangs.
Watch the full report in the video above.