It was 04:15, Saturday 22 September 2025, in the industrial area of Marly-la-Ville (Val-d’Oise) when the police were alerted by the surveillance system of the logistics company Nippon Express: a break-in was in progress in the storage room.
Two patrols leave. On the way, they encountered a utility vehicle traveling at full speed in the opposite lane. Is this related to their intervention? No doubt. The police turned around, turned on their flashing lights, and gave chase through several towns to Pierrefitte-sur-Seine (Seine-Saint-Denis). Three men aged 27 to 20 were arrested.
The contents of their vehicles are once again beyond doubt. Two grinders used to break into the premises were found there as well as a set of objects stolen from the logistics warehouse: cameras, a landline telephone, an electric razor, etc. All worth 5,774 euros.
“Do you know much about warehouses that are open at night? »
Tried at the Pontoise court, Tuesday 18 November, the three defendants (including one prisoner) did not fully agree with their respective versions. From the box, the first offender, a repeat offender, acknowledged the facts at length while insisting that “the illegality that had long attracted his attention” no longer interested him.
Meanwhile, two others explained that they had been contacted by a stranger who offered them 500 euros each to carry out the relief mission.
“Do you know many warehouses are open at night around 4 or 5 in the morning for work? You say that you were hired to do the handling but also stand outside. You don’t want to get your 500 euros back? »
Faced with questions from the head of the court, one of the defendants recalled that time: “I don’t remember anymore, it was a long time ago, ma’am.” Others, naivety: “We were told about some kind of handling so I didn’t try to understand whether it was legal or not. »
Banned from seeing each other for two years
The “absurd” explanation, which almost angered intelligence, left the public prosecutor feeling offended. This was indeed a commando operation carried out to the detriment of the handling and logistics sector by at least four people, the last of whom was not arrested.
The three were found guilty of all the charges they were accused of and had to pay €500 each to the civil party Nippon Express.
On a case-by-case basis, defendants who are already in custody receive sentences of 24 months in prison and the revocation of their driver’s license. The other two were sentenced to 12 months in prison with simple suspended sentences. All are prohibited from making contact for 2 years.
