Car thefts, receiving stolen goods and car recycling in Puglia: 26 people reported and arrested

The State Police, by order of the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Trani, executed 26 precautionary measures issued by the GIP of the Court of Trani in the provinces of Barletta-Andria-Trani and Foggia.

The recipients of these measures are accused, in various capacities, of criminal association aimed at stealing, laundering and receiving stolen vehicles.

The investigative activity, coordinated by the Trani Public Prosecutor's Office and conducted by the Property Crimes Section of the Flying Squad of the Barletta-Andria-Trani Police Headquarters and the Central Operations Service of the Central Anti-Crime Directorate of the State Police, targeted a criminal syndicate specializing in predatory crimes.

The dismantled criminal system was dedicated to the theft of a very large number of cars, executed simultaneously from different operating “batteries”, capable to steal up to four vehicles per night. Subsequently, the stolen cars were transported by persons appointed to car dismantlers compliant, mainly in the Cerignolano area, where they were dismantled to permanently lose track of them.

Technical activities revealed that many thefts were carried out on commission, with precise indications on the model and technical specifications of the vehicles. There was discussion in an interception, eg, the type of headlight that the vehicle to be stolen had to have:

“Hey… see if you can find me a 3008 with normal headlight.”

“Normal headlight, not LED?”

“Yes, in normal light.”

On other occasions, using the term "pizzas", the number of cars to be stolen was agreed upon:

“Bring the pizzas.”

"Two or three?"

“As many as you have, you bring.”

The numerous elements collected by the investigators are the basis of the request for a precautionary measure formulated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Trani to the GIP, which has taken appropriate measures against the suspects. This is a highly qualified criminal group, capable of stealing a car in one or two minutes at most, also using advanced technologies to evade the interventions of the police, such as frequency jammers, environmental and telephone remediation between December 2023 and May 2024 they carried out 45 thefts of cars, all large-engined cars, with a total economic value of approximately 1.500.000 euros.

Numerous checks are currently underway on various car dismantlers to ensure the regularity of the dismantling and resale of used car parts.