Lenville, a small peaceful town in the south of the Oise, is plunged into chaos as a series of car thefts disrupts the peace of its residents. Peugeot 208s and Renault Clios are the most targeted models, causing concern among residents and local authorities. Professional and often masked, the thieves operate mostly at night, using fake license plates to avoid detection. Mayor Christoph Dietrich is warning the public about this growing threat via social media, highlighting the rapid resale of stolen parts in a thriving underground market.

Renault Clio and Peugeot 208 are better targets

Lenville, a peaceful town located in the south of the Oise, is currently the victim of a wave of vehicle thefts, which is causing concern in the local community. In recent days, the municipality has become a favorite playground for professional criminals, leaving residents and local authorities baffled by this unexpected surge. It seems that the main goals of these thieves THE Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio, popular vehicles across the country. The criminals, often hooded and operating mostly at night, travel together fake number plates. Lenville Mayor Christophe Dietrich warns the public about this ongoing threat on his Facebook page, stressing that stolen car parts are quickly resold, creating a thriving underground market. Despite the municipality’s efforts to keep crime rates low, Christoph Dietrich admits the difficulty in dealing with these expert thieves. “Despite all the measures taken by the municipality and the very low level of crime in Lenville, we encounter professionals who target vehicles to dismantle them and then resell the parts in a few hours”– he declares.

Prevention is better than cure

Faced with this growing threat, the mayor offers practical advice to residents to minimize the risks. He urges never to leave papers or valuables in cars and suggests using anti-theft canes. In addition, he recommends park vehicles in the garden or garage in the evening, carefully closing the portals. In a proactive approach, it also encourages the installation of GPS trackers under cars. However, despite these precautions, some residents report theft of specific models and demand the installation of additional surveillance cameras in the city. Christoph Dietrich acknowledges the request, but emphasizes the difficulty of dealing with experienced professionals who use vehicles with fake number plates and usually remain without hoods. He concludes by expressing concern about the consequences, stressing that while these criminals will eventually be apprehended, the damage has already been done.

However, the municipality remains committed to protecting its community and is taking additional measures to prevent this criminal activity.