The method is truly astonishing. A nationwide network of high-profile bicycle thieves, who destroyed the roofs of businesses before catching them with artisanal fishing rods, has been dismantled, the gendarmerie said in a press release, citing losses of almost one million euros.
Five people, suspected of being behind twelve acts in twelve different departments, were arrested on November 10. Presented to court this Thursday, November 13, they were placed under court supervision and will be tried on a delayed basis on December 15 and 16.
More than 60 police were mobilized
Last summer the affair began. Almost everywhere in the country, especially in the Pays de la Loire region, many high-end bicycle shops were robbed in the middle of the night. A preliminary investigation was first opened by the prosecutor’s office of Sables d’Olonne, but considering the breadth of the facts, the investigation was carried out by the prosecutor’s office of the Special Interregional Jurisdiction (JIRS) of Rennes, on July 25, 2025. The investigation was entrusted to the Research Section (SR) of Nantes in joint reference with the Central Office for the Eradication of Travel Delinquency (OCLDI) and the Brigade Research (BR) of Les Sables d’Olonne.
Little by little, investigators uncovered the modus operandi of the thieves who targeted high-end bicycles because of their sky-high selling prices: the thieves damaged the roof of the business before using a homemade fishing rod to snatch the bikes. They managed to identify five people, who were suspected of being the masterminds of twelve actions in twelve departments with losses of almost 1 million euros.
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On November 10, a large-scale operation was carried out in the Paris region and in the Alpes-Maritimes department, involving more than 60 police. Five people were arrested and detained by the police. After being presented to court on Thursday, November 13, these five people were placed under judicial supervision. They will be tried on a delayed basis on December 15 and 16, the gendarmerie explained.
