A few cases of champagne should soon be delivered to the police headquarters in Torcy (Seine-et-Marne). This Saturday, November 11, in the morning, three crews managed to recover in Pontault-Combault in incredible conditions nearly 600,000 euros of Moët & Chandon, the great reference for this beverage throughout the world. The goods had been stolen during the night in Reims (Marne).
The interception took place after a chase between two heavy goods vehicles and three police cars. It finally took place on the Francilienne in particularly risky conditions. The thieves managed to escape. No one was injured during this operation.
Driver jumps into gear and escapes law enforcement
It was almost 9 a.m. when a message was broadcast over the police radio. We are looking for a trailer, stolen in the night, from a company specializing in champagne. What the thieves probably don’t know is that there is a beacon in the trailer. The Reims judicial police, seized of the case due in particular to the enormous damage, reported that the “snitch” is flashing on the national 4 near Gretz-Armainvilliers.
Police crews rush to the scene. As they approach the target, they realize that there are in fact two heavy goods vehicles traveling with a trailer each. “Initially, the colleagues also saw a BMW but it disappeared,” specifies a source close to the case. Law enforcement is assessing the situation. When the two 38 tons entered the Francilienne, the decision was made to intercept the convoy. However, the thieves have no intention of letting this happen.
A first crew approaches a heavy goods vehicle. The latter’s driver then jerks the wheel to hit the car. The police hit the truck which gradually moved towards the right, on the emergency lane. That’s when the improbable happens.
The truck driver opens the door while his vehicle is still moving and jumps into gear. “The speed was then very reduced,” contextualizes the same source. Emerging from the rear of the convoy, the BMW returns and right in front of the thief. A door opens and the driver can jump into the sedan. We won’t see her again.
A police officer sprints and jumps into the passenger compartment
Because during this time, the police have other priorities. “It was absolutely necessary to secure the area to avoid an accident.” Even though there is no one inside, the truck continues to travel at around 15 km/h. A police officer breaks into a sprint, throws himself into the passenger compartment and parks the truck.
And the other heavyweight in the meantime? The other two crews are in pursuit. Just before leaving the Pontillault activity zone, near the Total service station, the officials pass right in front of him on the Francilienne. And there, another twist of theater: the driver hits the mark, pulls the steering wheel to the right, crushes the plastic blocks and manages to take the exit ramp. The police are trapped. Impossible to turn around.
Except that obviously the thieves are panicking. The truck was found a few minutes later, rue de Bruxelles in Pontault, opposite the Brico Dépôt store. If no one was inside, all the merchandise was there. The investigation remains led by the Reims judicial police.
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