Dismantling of a mini-excavator theft ring by the Bordeaux Research Section
- By the Gendinfo editorial team
- Published on March 16, 2025
© Bordeaux Research Section
Since the end of 2023, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Gendarmerie region has noted an upsurge in thefts of construction machinery such as mini-excavators. Over the past twelve months, 90 machines have been stolen, mainly from construction sites. Among the most affected departments is the Gironde. The unit value of each machine ranges between 40,000 and 80,000 euros. The modus operandi used by the criminals is always the same. They use a van with false license plates, towing a flatbed trailer and sometimes equipped with a removable rotating beacon. To avoid being spotted and to avoid arousing suspicion on construction sites, the individuals wear fluorescent safety vests.
Under the supervision of the Bordeaux public prosecutor's office, meticulous investigations conducted by the gendarmes made it possible to establish a link between numerous thefts and identify an organized criminal team composed of individuals gravitating within the construction machinery sphere, ranging from the thief to the receiver.
Establishment of a national investigative unit
Faced with the scale of the phenomenon, a national investigative unit was set up on November 12, 2024. The investigation was led by the Bordeaux Research Section (S.R.), reinforced by the Gironde Departmental Gendarmerie Group (GGD). To put an end to the actions of these criminals, a judicial operation was launched on March 11, 2025. It allowed for the arrest of eight individuals in the Gironde, Landes, Charente-Maritime, and Gers departments. The searches led to the seizure of four mini-excavators, one backhoe loader, two trailers, various mini-excavator accessories (ignition switches, buckets, hydraulic breakers...), sets of universal keys, cash, vehicles, and a GPS tracker jammer.
Following police custody, four people were cleared, and three individuals born in 1979, 1984, and 1998, respectively, were referred to the Bordeaux prosecutor's office on March 14, 2025, for a deferred appearance and were placed under judicial supervision pending their trial, which will take place on May 12, 2025. They are being prosecuted for ten counts of group theft committed between March and December 2024. A fourth individual was released and summoned to appear in court to be tried on the same charges.
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