A new high-end bicycle theft ring has been uncovered in the west of France

Three men, “suspected of being behind a series of robberies targeting high-end bike shops”, were arrested on Wednesday by police.

A new high-end bicycle theft ring was uncovered this week in the west of France, with the arrest of three people, ICI Loire Océan (formerly France Bleu) learned from the La Roche-sur-Yon prosecutor’s office on Friday, November 21.

The three men were arrested on Wednesday by police, “suspected to be behind a series of robberies targeting high-end bicycle shops in several departments in Grand Ouest, with total damage estimated at almost 500,000 euros”said Friday evening Sarah Huet, public prosecutor of La Roche-sur-Yon.

The investigation began on November 6. Each time, the suspects stole a utility vehicle to use as a “battering ram” to rob the bike shop. “The cycle was then hidden in the countryside before being moved to a box located in the basement of the house of one of his accomplices, then transported to the Paris area.”added the prosecutor.

This Wednesday morning, two suspects were arrested on the road carrying a bicycle, then an accomplice at his house. Some of the loot was recovered during the search. Two of the three arrested were placed in pre-trial detention, the third under judicial supervision, ahead of their trial scheduled for January 5.

In early November, another network specializing in high-end bicycle theft, operating across France, with total losses estimated at around 1 million euros, was dismantled following the arrest of five people.