Police in the Paris region have dismantled a highly organized crew of highway cargo thieves suspected of stealing some €600,000 worth of goods — including coffee, cosmetics and champagne — from trucks parked overnight at rest areas, according to a report by Le Figaro.
The five-man team was caught in the act in the early hours of June 17, 2026, at the Rémy rest area on the A1 motorway in the Oise department, north of Paris, bringing an end to an investigation that had run for nearly three months to the day.
A Meticulously Planned Operation
According to the account, the thieves operated with precision. At 3:51 a.m., a utility van pulled in between two trailers on the darkened parking lot, where heavy goods vehicles stood with their engines off. The occupants were looking for a semi-trailer loaded with Amazon parcels. By 4:34 a.m., the cargo had been quietly transferred from one trailer to another.
But officers from the Brigade for the Repression of Banditry (BRB) had been tracking the group for weeks. That night, they caught the men red-handed, and the suspects were arrested in Paris in the hours that followed.
22 Heists in Four Months
Investigators believe the crew carried out the same method at least 22 times over four months, between February and June 2026, targeting rest areas along major highways in the greater Paris region. The gang struck regularly at night, carefully selecting trucks and transferring cargo without drawing attention.
The total haul is estimated at around €600,000, spanning everyday consumer goods and luxury items alike.
Investigation Continues
The arrests mark a significant blow to a criminal operation that had turned France’s highway rest stops into a repeated target. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the suspects or potential charges as the investigation proceeds.
