For several weeks, Lyon and its region have been the scene of a wave of thefts targeting the rear logos of Renault cars, incorporating the reversing camera.
In the Lyon region, thefts of Renault car rear logos, which house the reversing camera, are increasing. These parts, used on several models, are being resold on classified ad sites. The shortage of this part at the diamond-shaped manufacturer is making the situation worse.
The Holy Grail of Thieves: The Rear View Camera
Surprisingly, for several weeks now, the Lyon region has been the scene of a series of thefts targeting Renault models. The thieves only seem to be interested in one part: the rear logo of the vehicles, which incorporates the reversing camera. The preferred cars of these night thieves are mainly Renault Clio, Captur and even Megane. This phenomenon deserves attention, because in parallel with car thefts, the theft of spare parts is on the rise. Hoods, headlights, bumpers, and catalytic converters, anything is good to steal, as long as there is demand on the black market. In Lyon, it is the rear Renault logos, housing the reversing cameras, which are particularly targeted. One of the testimonies obtained by the news site -.fr reports the theft of the logo of a Renault Captur on June 9, 2024 in the 6th arrondissement of Lyon. The next day, at the Renault Lyon-Sud garage, three other people deplored the same type of theft. According to the bodywork department of this establishment, 22 vehicles have recently been victims of the theft of this part. The police in the region have reportedly recorded around ten cases recently, but the thefts continue unabated, and the very experienced criminals act quickly, all without making any noise that could alert a resident.
A juicy business
It seems that these thefts are motivated by the resale of the part. The logo integrating the reversing camera at the back of the car is in fact used on several models of the diamond brand. This versatility facilitates the resale of the stolen part since it can correspond to different models. To buy this used part on the internet, expect to pay a little less than 100 euros. This may seem a little expensive, but it is worth remembering that on the official Renault website, this reversing camera is priced at 170 euros. Thus, by going through the second-hand market (fueled by the black market, but not only), it is possible to save a few dozen euros. Add to that the fact that this part can correspond to several models of the brand, and you will have the winning formula to make a maximum of money while ultimately taking very little risk. It is difficult to say whether a particular part sold on the Internet has been stolen, and buyers do not seem to care about this issue as long as they are certain of buying it at a very good price. The situation is made worse by the fact that this part is out of stock at Renault, which pushes victims to potentially buy the part stolen from their own car second-hand. This creates a vicious circle and a circular economy where thieves find a demand willing to pay for these spare parts in record time. Faced with this situation, it is necessary to raise awareness among Renault car owners about this type of theft. It is recommended to park vehicles in secure and well-lit places, and to immediately report any theft to the police and your insurer.
