Four Ukrainians arrested for spectacular highway robberies
A gang of "acrobats" robbed several lorries in northern France using an acrobatic technique from Eastern Europe. The four suspects stole more than 200,000 euros worth of goods.
Robberies using acrobatic technique
According to TF1 Info, four Ukrainians have been arrested following a series of particularly audacious thefts in northern France. Their modus operandi: pressing the bumper of their vehicle against a lorry travelling at 90 km/h on the motorway. Once positioned at the rear, one of the thieves passes through the sunroof, climbs onto the bonnet and forces open the doors to steal the goods before driving away in the opposite direction.
The four suspects targeted heavy goods vehicles transporting smartphones and tablets. Their total haul is estimated at more than 200,000 euros. According to Étienne Thieffry, prosecutor of the Republic for Béthune (Pas-de-Calais), a dozen offences were able to be attributed to the group. The team was apprehended shortly after committing one of the thefts.
Proceedings and potential sentences
The four Ukrainians were to be tried in immediate appearance on 7 October at Béthune tribunal for aggravated theft, aggravated damage and criminal conspiracy. The trial has been postponed to December. They face up to seven years in prison and a 100,000 euro fine.
General Thomas Andreu, commander of the Office for combating travelling crime, stressed that this technique requires a high level of professionalism. The suspects, aged 40 to 50, carry out several nights of surveillance recorded in notebooks before each theft. This method remains rare in France, but is not unprecedented. In 2019, Romanian acrobats had stolen luxury perfumes and high-tech devices causing an estimated loss of 3.5 million euros. The latter received sentences of up to six years in prison.
Source: TF1 Info