At the beginning of November 2024, the gendarmes of the Grenoble research brigade dismantled a car theft network, indicated this Tuesday, November 12, the public prosecutor of Grenoble, Eric Vaillant. These thefts, which took place between August and October 2024, almost each time concerned Renault Mégane RS, always with the same operating mode: the thefts took place on public roads, at night.
The cars were mainly stolen on the Vercors plateau, particularly in Villard-de-Lans and Moirans. The investigators were able, “in total, attribute ten incidents of vehicle theft to this particularly well-organized team of criminals who took extreme precautions in order to hide their misdeeds“, according to Eric Vaillant. During the searches, “objects allowing the theft of large engines, more particularly a programmer”, thus 7,400 euros in cash, weapons and ammunition were discovered and seized.
“The vehicles were then resold for a few thousand euros, via a dedicated Telegram group” specifies the Grenoble public prosecutor's office. As part of the investigation which was opened, four people were arrested, then three referred last week, prosecuted for theft in meetings, receiving stolen property, participation in a criminal association. Two, from the Grenoble area and aged around twenty, were placed in pre-trial detention, Their judgment is scheduled for January 13. “The third, in his thirties residing in Gard, is the subject of judicial review, while the last, originally from the Grenoble metropolis and aged 27, will be summoned later” concludes the prosecution.
