The series of thefts took place between May and June 2023, in the north of the department of Maine-et-Loire and the south of Mayenne. On their farms, farmers saw the GPS disappear from their machines, high-end equipment that can be worth tens of thousands of euros. At the time, some victims spoke of damages of €100,000.
The affair had shocked the agricultural world. Just after the thefts, nearly a hundred professionals from the agricultural world met in front of a building occupied by families from Romania. They protested against this phenomenon, convinced that the stolen equipment was in the courtyard of the building.
Because these GPS have the particularity of being traceable. This is also how investigators will trace the suspects. On July 8, 2023, in Milly-la-Forêt (Essonne), a convoy was intercepted while traveling to Romania. At this time, several people were arrested.
His phone was limited to the scene of the thefts
A 21-year-old man was arrested in August 2024 in Romania and indicted in this case. He was presented this Wednesday, November 13, 2024, before the Angers investigating chamber, to request his release. The Romanian suspect was later identified by investigators. His cell phone was on each of the locations of the thefts.
Read also: INVESTIGATION. Behind the theft of agricultural GPS in the West, networks managed from Eastern countries
Described as the little hand of a structured network, the man nevertheless remains in detention, pending the continuation of the investigation and a possible trial. “We are not on petty thefts in an abandoned house, justified the president. These are thefts of valuable equipment that we know how to resell on the other side of Europe, it is a profitable lifestyle choice. »
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