In the first nine months of 2010, the border
policemen detected 251 stolen vehicles appearing as stolen from
abroad.
In comparison with the same period of 2009, when 153 vehicles were
detected, the number of detections of stolen transportation means
increased with approximately 64%.
The main "supplier" of stolen vehicles transiting the Romanian
borders, is Italy, followed by Germany, Hungary etc. and the
persons involved are mostly Romanian, Moldovan, Ukrainian,
Austrian, Italian and Turkish citizens.
Statistics
Trafficking in luxury vehicles stolen from abroad remains, also this year, in the attention of transnational underworld, being an illegal activity which brings substantial financial benefits to the members of the networks already specialized in the field and extremely well organized at the level of several states (from the Western to the Eastern Europe).
From the beginning of the year until now, the border policemen detected 192 vehicles, as well as 21 ware trucks, 12 microbuses, 15 motorcycles and 7 trailers stated as stolen from abroad. In the same period of 2009, 153 vehicles stolen from abroad were detected, ascertaining an increase with approximately 64% of the number of detected vehicles.
In order to identify and confiscate the vehicles stated as stolen from abroad, under the direct monitoring of the Prosecutor's Offices, the border policemen collaborated with the similar structures in the E.U. Member States, realizing an operational data and information exchange through Border Contact Points and Centers (Oradea, Galati, etc.).
In the field of countering trafficking in stolen vehicles, the border policemen issued 177 criminal files; the persons involved were mostly Romanian, Moldovan, Ukrainian, Austrian, Italian and Turkish citizens.
Organization of trafficker networks
From the analyses carried out by the border policemen in the cases detected in the competence areas, it was established that, generally, the trafficker networks are organized into two types: specialized in the theft of luxury vehicles and specialized in the theft of mid-range vehicles, respectively.
These two types are subdivided into several action groups, whose "hierarchy" is the following:
reconnaissance group - identifies the vehicles corresponding to the "request", technical group - produces false documents, transportation group - crosses the vehicles over the borders, capitalization group - sells the luxury vehicles, surveillance group - monitors and carries out all the phases included in the illegal activity.Modi operandi and routes
As modi operandi of the traffickers, the analyses indicate that "are practiced":
insurance fraud - with the authorization of the owner, the vehicle is transported to another country, "washed" through successive sales and subsequently is stated as stolen by its owner; ordered theft, misappropriation or fraud at rental agencies - a person lacking material possibilities is being recruited and for a moderate amount of money agrees to open an account on his/her name at a bank in order to obtain a credit card, based on which the person rents the vehicle from the profile firms.The routes used by the traffickers are, generally, oriented from the West European countries to the East European countries and from former Soviet area:
Italy - Austria - Hungary - Romania; Germany - Austria - Hungary - Romania - Moldova and Ukraine; Italy - Serbia - Romania - Republic of Moldova - Ukraine or Russian Federation.The main "supplier" of stolen vehicles transiting the borders of Romania is Italy, followed by Germany, Hungary etc.
In most of the cases, during the investigations, the persons who were driving the vehicles stated that they weren't aware of the fact that the vehicles were in the attention of the authorities as being stolen - they were just "bona fide purchasers". Others sustained that they received an amount of money (generally, up to 500 EUR) to transport the vehicle to Romania and they did not know that it was stolen.
Following a "study" of the bid and ask on the black market of vehicles, it was ascertained that, in the luxury vehicles category, the most looked for are BMW and Audi, and the mid-range vehicles: Renault and Fiat.
Out of the cases recorded in 2010 by the border policemen in the field of prevention and countering trafficking in stolen vehicles, we mention the following:
Luxury vehicles of approximately 200.000 Euro
stolen from Germany, detected at Varsand
On 23.06.2010,
the border policemen within the Border Crossing Point Varsand
identified a Ukrainian citizen, P.O., aged 48, who presented
himself in order to enter the country driving a Bentley
Continental, registered in Ukraine.
On the occasion of the documents' check, the border policemen
observed that the registration certificate of the vehicle and the
Ukrainian driving license presented by P.O. were falsified. After
carrying out the specific checks, the border policemen discovered
that the vehicle appeared in the database of Interpol as being
stolen from Germany in April 2010.
The man stated that he was not aware of the fact that the vehicle
was stolen from Germany and that he was just transporting it to
Bulgaria at the request of a friend.
The border policemen from Arad drew up the documents for the
beginning of the criminal proceeding for committing theft
concealment, complicity to material falsification in official
documents, driving on public roads a vehicle without a driving
license and a vehicle with false registration number; for the
finalization of the case all the legal measures are to be
taken.
At the same time, the vehicle was seized and transported to the
H.Q. of County Inspectorate of Border Police Arad in order to carry
on the investigations.
An 80.000 euro truck stolen from Lithuania
detected at the border
On 01.10.2010, at B.C.P. Giurgiu, the Ukrainian citizen Anatoli S.,
aged 55, presented for carrying out the legal formalities, driving
a Renault truck registered in Lithuania.
The border policemen started the verification of the truck in the
database and they ascertained that it was stated as stolen from
Lithuania since August 2010.
Preliminary documents were drew up to the driver for the beginning
of the criminal proceeding for committing complicity to theft and
was brought before the Prosecutor's Office attached to Giurgiu
Court of Law which disposed his investigation in freedom.
The truck, amounting to approximately 80.000 Euro was seized at the
H.Q. of C.I.B.P. Giurgiu until the finalization of the
investigations.
BMW X5 stolen from Austria, detected by the
border policemen in Vaslui
On 18 August 2010, at B.C.P. Albita, Vaslui County, the Moldovan
citizen Ion J., aged 28, presented himself at the border driving a
field vehicle BMW X5, from 2008, having temporary registration
plates from Hungary.
During the specific check, having suspicions regarding the origin
of the vehicle, the border policemen carried out verifications in
the database of Interpol, ascertaining the fact that the car was
stolen from Austria on 19 May 2010.
On the occasion of the investigations, it was also established that
the power of attorney presented at the border check by the Moldovan
citizen was false.
The border policemen from Vaslui drew up criminal file for
committing complicity to qualified theft (art. 26 reported to art.
208, 209 C criminal code) and use of false (art. 291 criminal code)
following to be forwarded to the Prosecutor's Office attached to
the Court of Law Husi with the legal proposals.
The car amounting to approximately 189.000 lei was seized at the
H.Q. of C.I.B.P. Vaslui.
The border policemen carry on the investigations in order to
establish the circumstances which led to the committing of the deed
and to identify all the persons involved.
Mercedes stolen from Italy, detected by the
border policemen
On 21.02.2010,
around 23.30, at Albita Border Crossing Point, Vaslui County, the
Romanian citizen, Liviu D., aged 40, operating a Mercedes Benz S
350 CDI limo, fabricated in 2009, registered in Germany, presented
himself to exit the country.
At the specific check, the border policemen being suspicious
regarding the origin of the vehicle carried out a thorough check
and noticed that the vehicle was stated as stolen from Italy since
the beginning of this month.
The driver claimed that he had bought the vehicle from a German
citizen for the amount of 42.000 euro. The man also said that he
was not aware of the fact that the vehicle was stolen and intended
to sell it in Republic of Moldova.
The car, amounting to more than 50.000 euro was seized and
transported to the H.Q. of Vaslui County Inspectorate of Border
Police.
The Romanian Border Police will continue - independently or in collaboration with the other institutions in the country or abroad - to undertake firm measures in the field of countering cross-border crime phenomenon, which can prejudice the national economy and honest people.