• Sentences of one to three years in prison were pronounced against three burglars.

  • They were tried before the Annecy Criminal Court for having stolen prestigious bottles from renowned restaurants.

  • Six establishments were robbed between November 2017 and February 2018 in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Four men were sentenced on Tuesday to terms ranging from one to three years in prison by the Annecy Criminal Court (Haute-Savoie).

They were tried for having stolen fine wines from restaurants, including the Auberge du Père Bise, two stars in the Michelin Guide.

The establishment of chef Jean Sulpice, located in Talloires on the shores of Lake Annecy, had been visited on the night of February 6 to 7, 2018. The criminals left with more than 300 bottles of grands crus, worth around 400,000 euros.

The investigation, which was based in particular on video surveillance and telephone surveillance, had made it possible to make connections with other similar thefts committed in Rhône-Alpes: six establishments were targeted between November 2017 and February 2018, mainly in Haute-Savoie, but also in Isère and in the Rhône.

Bottles sometimes exceeding 2,000 euros

The burglars, three men aged 30 to 40, are from the Lyon suburbs.

Profiles marked by "an anchorage in delinquency", exposed the deputy prosecutor Fouad Messai, listing the many convictions entered in their criminal records, but also "big players" in particular followers of card games.

These individuals engaged in "journeys at night to 'break up' restaurants to bring back wines and sell these great wines through a person", described the magistrate, referring to "bottles which have for some a value exceeding 2,000 euros”.

In April 2018, 154 bottles and around 25,000 euros in cash were found in one of the homes searched during the investigation.

“Nickel-plated feet”

“There was no preparation.

We were closer to nickel-plated feet than to the professionals we would like to pass for, ”said one of the burglars, who had been recognized on images of the restaurant L’Ambroisie in Saint-Didier-de-la, at the bar. -Tour (Isère) because of his facial scar.

Two other defendants denied their involvement in the thefts, confining themselves to referring to the other members of the group as "local acquaintances".

Just like a fourth, who was acquitted by the court.

As for the retailer, also living in the Lyon area, he bought stocks of wine on the Internet “unprofessionally” before the facts.

This "expert" was "intoxicated by his passion", according to his lawyer, Tristan Jannot, when he found himself "in possession of exceptional bottles", which he offered to friends and professionals. some wine.

The 46-year-old man was sentenced to seven months in prison for concealment, a sentence he will carry out under an electronic bracelet.

In Lyon, burglars arrested in the cellar of a cork

Chased, they abandon the 350,000 euros of bottles stolen to Lyon

  • Justice

  • Thief

  • Restaurant

  • Bottle

  • Lyons

  • Annecy

  • Isere

  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes