On March 19, 2025, the Düsseldorf Regional Court began the criminal trial against six men who allegedly operated a car theft gang between July 2023 and February 2024. They used forged documents to steal luxury vehicles worth a total of over two million euros. The six defendants are from Ratingen, Emmerich, and Aachen, and are accused of using professional forgery and fraudulent methods to steal high-quality cars across Germany and sell them abroad.
Defendants and proceedings
The defendants, aged between 24 and 54, face charges of aggravated fraud, forgery, and misuse of identity documents. Unlike the defendants, the case of a 50-year-old lawyer from Bad Honnef, who was also originally charged, was dropped upon payment of a fine of €4,000. Her role in the organization was deemed less relevant.
The trial is considered highly complex, as the gang's criminal activities were highly organized and internationally active. The defendants primarily targeted luxury cars, which they obtained from car dealers using forged leasing documents. The vehicles, mostly Mercedes, Maybach, Porsche, and Audi models, were resold abroad through various channels after the theft.
The gang's approach
According to the indictment, the gang stole a total of 27 luxury vehicles between July 2023 and February 2024. It is particularly noteworthy that the vehicles, mostly stolen in large cities such as Wesel, Moers, Duisburg, and Mülheim, were quickly transferred to international trade. Sales often took place via Dubai, where the perpetrators resold the vehicles through the gang's car dealership after their illegal transfer.
The head of the gang, a 38-year-old man from Aachen, is said to have pulled the strings from Dubai. He was considered the main financier and organizer of the crimes. He used internet advertisements to specifically search for luxury vehicles, contacting car dealers, and using a false identity. Several accomplices helped him obtain documents from people without assets. These documents, including forged bank statements, employment contracts, and salary certificates, were intended to falsify the creditworthiness of the supposed buyers.
The defendants from Ratingen were responsible for contacting the car dealers directly and submitting the forged documents. A 54-year-old man from Ratingen was held responsible for transporting the vehicles and handing them over to the "buyers." He allegedly received €1,000 per car as a reward for his efforts.
The sale and the involvement of Dubai
A particularly conspicuous part of the criminal activities was the transport and sale of the vehicles in Dubai. The particularly high-end luxury cars were allegedly resold there. Interested parties for the cars were sought via the messaging service Telegram. The Dubai gang leader worked in collaboration with other unknown accomplices who organized the sale and transport. These activities were international, making the case a cross-border criminal complex.
Investigations and detection
The gang was uncovered as part of a larger investigation, which also involved a case in Kleve. The investigation and surveillance by the public prosecutor's office ultimately led to the arrests of the suspected perpetrators. In particular, the surveillance of the suspects' phones provided investigators with important information that led to the uncovering of the schemes.
A total of seven days of hearings were scheduled during the investigation, which are scheduled to last until May 15, 2025. The defendants' defense has announced that the perpetrators will respond to the allegations, not immediately at the start of the trial, but on one of the upcoming days of the hearing.
Outlook for the future
It remains to be seen how the trial will develop and what penalties will ultimately be imposed. The gang members were active in various parts of the criminal system and used sophisticated methods to defraud car dealerships and financial institutions. The proceedings could serve as a signal that such international criminal networks are increasingly coming under the scrutiny of the justice system. Given the extent of the damage and the complex organization of the perpetrators, both the verdicts and the final investigation in this case are likely to have far-reaching implications for future investigations into car theft and fraud.
This process underscores the need for even stricter monitoring of international trade and the automotive market to prevent such criminal activities and hold those responsible accountable.
