Police detain 14-member gang trafficking in stolen cars

Brno, Sept 21 (CTK) - Czech detectives detained a 14-member gang of dealers with cars stolen mainly in Austria these days, detective Roman Idrny, from the South Bohemian police, told CTK Friday.

The gang is suspected of having sold ten stolen cars causing damage of eight million crowns at least. Detectives also seized another 14 cars during the raid that are most probably also stolen, Idrny added.

The investigation has proved that most of the cars were stolen in Austria but some of them also in Slovakia and in the Czech Republic. The thieves then passed the cars on to the gang of dealers led by four men.

They collaborated with other ten people who helped them fraudulently register the cars in the Czech Republic to legalise them on the basis of forged documents. Then the cars were sold.

The gang has profited from the criminal activities since 2009. It has probably sold tens of cars.

The most frequently types were BMW, Mercedes and Seat but they also sold a luxurious stolen Porsche and an Aston Martin.

They sold the luxurious cars, the price of which is about 1.5 million crowns at the market, for 300,000 crowns.

Three of the suspects have been taken into custody.

If found guilty, the accused gang members face up to eight years in prison. They are prosecuted on suspicion of the legalisation of profit from criminal activities, complicity and harming rights of another.