Tires, headlights, reversing cameras… The theft of automobile parts is exploding: how can we explain this phenomenon?

In the midst of an upsurge, the theft of automobile accessories is worrying residents of the Rouen metropolitan area (Seine-Maritime). Tires, headlights and even reversing cameras disappear in minutes. Victims, often left with hefty bills, share their experiences and concerns.

But who dismantles the cars in the Rouen area? Surprise when leaving for work for Thibault on December 9, 2024. As he returns to his vehicle which he usually parks on rue du Renard at night, he finds his Mercedes A class with a broken window and above all… without tires!

“They broke it to open the door and take what was in my trunk. There was 150 euros worth of stuff. That’s where they had to take my anti-theft nut to take my tires My underbody is also damaged”, s.he saddens the young man.

“It’s common apparently, we see them all over Rouen… The repairman told me that he sees several per week”, he continues.

Same fate, the same evening, in the same street for Lucile, who finds her Peugeot 208 without wheels. “I’m a freelance nurse, my car is my work tool… Fortunately I wasn’t working that day!” the young woman explains to us, annoyed.

Lucile and Thibault shared their experience on a Rouen Facebook group, where similar testimonies are multiplying.

The phenomenon seems more and more widespread in Rouen, but also in the urban area. Charline, a resident of Grand-Quevilly, was the victim of a similar mishap on the night of June 3 to 4, 2024.

Several vehicles on his street were T-boned. “In addition to stealing all four of my tires and rims, they also broke the underside of my car and the front bumper! she protests. The same evening, three vehicles suffered the same fate, Peugeot and Clio.”

Like Thibault and Lucile, she filed a complaint against X to declare a claim to her insurance. However, an unpleasant surprise awaited him at the garage: “I paid 820 euros out of my pocket!”.

Lucile spent a comparable amount: “We are made to pay for the obsolescence of the tires, and the insurance does not cover it.”

Tires, grilles, headlights… thieves often target the same vehicle models. “The vehicles most affected by these thefts are mainly French brands such as Renault, Peugeot and Citroen, in particular the 208, 308, 3008, Clio, Twingo, Megane and C3 models,” tells us the Interdepartmental Directorate of the national police of Seine-Maritime.

In France, theft of spare parts increased by 30% in 2023. “It was noted that incidents of theft of specific accessories, including wheels, are actually on the rise, particularly in the Rouen metropolitan area and the last quarter of 2024. continues the DIPN of Seine-Maritime.

Vehicles dismantled in the middle of the street, to the great dismay of the owners. “It’s a disaster, it doesn’t stop! They are organized, they have all the anti-theft bolts that exist, they act in groups of four and in five minutes it’s over! They have radical methods”, Charline protests.

But then, who are these thieves and what do they do with the stolen parts? “The cost of spare parts has increased significantly in recent years, it has increased by 20-30% in two to three years”deplores a mechanic from Rouen. “Availability times have increased.”

These spare parts often end up resold on websites between individuals, or even via Telegram groups, at more attractive prices.

The most coveted part in recent months: the reversing camera for the Renaut Clio 5. There are numerous ads on the private sales site LeBonCoin. There are even tutorials on TikTok for removing it.

According to a Rouen police source, an investigation is underway to try to identify and find the criminal(s). “There is an increase in theft of accessories from vehicles, especially on Peugeots and Renaults. It could be the same team or the same person”we are whispered.

If you find your vehicle without tires or vandalized, here are the steps to follow:

1. Report the theft: contact the police or go to a police station within 24 hours to file a report.

2. Inform your insurer: notify your car insurance company and follow their procedures.

Please note, not all insurance covers this type of theft.

A few simple actions to prevent the risk of theft:

• When leaving my car, I check that the doors and windows are properly closed.
• I never leave the papers in my car: registration certificate (registration card), driving license.
• I don’t leave any tempting objects that can be seen from the outside

Despite these precautions, vigilance remains essential in the face of increasingly organized thieves.