INFO EUROPE 1
The police arrested last Tuesday a dozen individuals involved in at least four attacks of vending machines, perpetrated between March and July 2018 in the Hauts-de-France, according to information from Europe 1. Their method of operation , rather original, was to introduce into the DAB a gaseous mixture to cause the explosion through an electrical device.
The criminals, described as "particularly active and mobile", are also being prosecuted for cargo theft and several burglaries. The overall damage of their misdeeds is estimated at over 200,000 euros.
Luxury vehicles, weapons, blank license plates ...
The joint work of the research section of the Lille-Villeneuve d'Ascq gendarmerie, the interregional judicial police department of Lille and the central office for the fight against itinerant crime made it possible, in this case, to launch a large search operation on several sites in the town of Saint-Quentin in the Aisne, but also in Dijon and Trévoux in the Ain.
During this joint operation, mobilizing nearly 120 gendarmes and policemen, were seized five vehicles (including high-end models), 60,000 euros, several long guns and handguns, a hundred boxes of perfume, a press and 450 blank license plates.
Of the dozen people arrested, nine were presented to a judge for an indictment. Of these, four were imprisoned and five others were placed under judicial supervision.