Law enforcement in France has dismantled a major vehicle theft gang involved in home-jacking across the Grand Ouest region. Over three months, the group was linked to 76 vehicle thefts, resulting in damages exceeding 1 million euros. Investigations revealed that some activities were coordinated from prison. Five suspects were arrested, and significant evidence, including stolen vehicles and illegal substances, was seized. The suspects are set to face trial in March 2025, with four in provisional detention.
Major Vehicle Theft Gang Dismantled in France
After months of thorough investigation, law enforcement has successfully cracked a significant vehicle theft operation. This week, the research section of Rennes in Ille-et-Vilaine, along with the investigative teams from Montfort-sur-Meu and Saint-Nazaire in Loire-Atlantique, took down an organized gang notorious for vehicle theft through home-jacking in the Grand Ouest region of France.
Details of the Criminal Operation
According to Frédéric Teillet, the public prosecutor of Rennes, this criminal network was known to supply other criminal entities in Nantes, Rennes, and even Paris. Over the past three months, they have been linked to the theft of 76 vehicles across six departments, with total damages surpassing 1 million euros. Teillet revealed these findings in a statement released on January 23.
Notably, some of the criminal activities were orchestrated from behind bars. The investigation initiated on October 17, 2024, when a suspect was apprehended for refusing to comply while driving a stolen vehicle. Gendarmes from the Guichen brigade discovered various stolen items in the vehicle, leading to a connection with a series of home-jacking incidents affecting multiple departments in the Grand Ouest.
The Rennes court swiftly launched an investigation into charges of “organized gang theft,” “organized gang receiving,” and “criminal conspiracy,” which was assigned to regional gendarmes. The inquiry unveiled a group of five criminals who executed vehicle thefts through home-jacking techniques. It was revealed that some thefts were directly commissioned by an inmate utilizing encrypted messaging for communication.
The gang’s modus operandi involved nighttime operations. They would break into homes by forcibly removing the lock cylinder from the front door and subsequently search for vehicle keys. Jewelry and electronic devices were taken opportunistically during these incursions, as noted by the magistrate.
Since September 2024, the gang has been implicated in the theft of 76 vehicles, primarily in Ille-et-Vilaine, Loire-Atlantique, and Morbihan—averaging nearly one vehicle stolen every two days, as highlighted by the prosecutor.
Following a series of residence changes, three primary suspects were apprehended in Morbihan mid-January. They were arrested last Monday after stealing a Porsche Cayenne in La Mézière, Ille-et-Vilaine.
Additionally, two accomplices were arrested: one detained at Argentan prison in Orne and another living in Saint-Nicolas de Redon in Loire-Atlantique. These individuals were suspected of being a commissioner and receiver involved in the operation. All suspects were promptly placed in police custody.
During coordinated searches at six locations in Morbihan, Loire-Atlantique, and Ille-et-Vilaine, gendarmes seized several items, including four stolen vehicles (two of which were Porsche Cayennes), numerous license plates, around twenty vehicle keys, identification documents belonging to theft victims, cash, jewelry, a jammer, and a beacon detector. Additionally, officers discovered 1.9 kg of cannabis resin and 190 grams of cocaine along with stolen professional tools.
The five individuals involved are reportedly well-known to the justice system and are set to face trial at the Rennes correctional court on March 20, 2025. In the meantime, four have been placed in provisional detention, while one is under judicial supervision.