The police had been on their trail since last September, when these three young men, aged only 18, began to act almost every weekend, committing thefts. Very specific thefts because their targets were very particular: the reversing cameras of the latest generation Renault automobiles, notably the Clio V, Captur III, and Mégane V. Arrested a few days ago after an ordinary inspection in Saint-Fargeau -Ponthierry, the three accomplices were released while awaiting trial in the context of an appearance on prior admission of guilt, or by pleading guilty, at the Melun judicial court.
These three young people, until then without history, thought they had found the right opportunity to earn money without too much risk. Indeed, stealing this type of accessory seems to be possible without too much difficulty or technical knowledge. Located on the rear cover, in the center of the brand's diamond logo, the reversing cameras are parts that are easy to dismantle and therefore easy to steal because the whole thing is simply glued. Were they inspired by the tutorials that exist on the Internet or by press articles reporting waves of thefts in Lyon and Marseille? In any case, the trio clearly had the upper hand since they admitted to having committed around forty acts, notably in the area of Saint-Fargeau-Ponthierry, Pringy, Boissise-le-Roi and Lieusaint.
With complaints piling up in the offices of the property crime group at the Melun Val de Seine national police station since the end of the summer vacation, the investigators quickly became convinced that they were dealing with a single and same team. So, last Sunday, December 21, when their colleagues from the anti-crime squad checked a car with a traffic violation in which three reversing cameras, a screwdriver and a window breaking hammer were found, a connection was immediately made.
The three occupants of the vehicle, whose driver did not have a driving license, then found themselves in police custody, while searches were launched at their homes. Good pick. No less than 24 cameras were found, as well as 600 euros in cash. “Even if they admitted double the number, we were only able to attribute around twenty thefts to them, because not all the owners filed a complaint,” confides a person close to the case. The damage would amount to several thousand euros.
The three accomplices explained that they resold these stolen cameras on the Leboncoin website., either individually or in batches. This Monday, December 30, for example, it was possible to find on the site more than 150 advertisements relating to Renault reversing cameras for the Clio, Mégane models, etc. or without precision, these cameras being compatible with the Open R Link multimedia system, developed by the diamond brand. As for the prices, they vary greatly because you can find cameras offered individually for 20 euros, 30 euros, 50 euros or even 80 euros. And even, a set of five cameras for 100 euros!
