A 37-year-old Portuguese citizen is being held in pretrial detention in France since June 2025 following allegations that he stole more than 40 heavy-duty vehicles to sell them back in Portugal, according to reports covered by the newspaper Le Parisien.
Identified in court records as Raphael C., the suspect was presented to a tribunal in Nanterre, located in the Île-de-France region. French authorities have formally charged him with criminal conspiracy, organized gang theft, and money laundering. Labelled by the French press as the “king of truck and construction machine thieves,” Raphael C. is accused alongside his brother and another accomplice of stealing 42 heavy vehicles across the Paris region, generating roughly 1,3 milhões de euros in total damages.
Investigation and Meticulous Theft Method in Paris Suburbs
The police operation began in February 2025 after a truck disappeared in Puteaux, a suburb of Paris. Investigators from the Hauts-de-Seine police department determined they were tracking an organized criminal syndicate executing at least one theft every week using a uniform modus operandi, according to local reports.
Operating during nighttime hours, the suspects scouted targets before breaking into the cabins. They disabled geolocation tracking systems and used dedicated electronic devices to force-start the vehicles. Stolen trucks were subsequently transferred to temporary parking lots where they sat for several days to ensure no secondary tracking beacons remained active. Finally, an accomplice drove the vehicles across the highway network toward Portugal using false license plates.
Did You Know? During a subsequent police search at the home of Raphael C., French authorities seized 27.000 euros in cash along with 80.000 em ferramentas e equipamentos worth of tools and equipment.
Suspect Background and Legal Proceedings in Versailles
Living in France for 13 years, Raphael C. worked in his wife’s restaurant and in construction, having previously managed a scrapyard in Portugal prior to emigrating. He and his brother have both denied the accusations. However, Raphael C. admitted he might have been present at one theft location without realizing an illegal act was underway. A second suspect, identified as Paolo, confessed to the crimes and assumed full responsibility before his release in June.
Legal counsel for Raphael C., Me Alexandre Simonin, petitioned the Versailles Investigating Court to dismiss what he termed “this judicial disaster” and release his client, though the request was denied.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific charges does Raphael C. face in France?
According to judicial filings in Nanterre, he faces formal charges of criminal conspiracy, theft committed by an organized group, and money laundering.
How many vehicles are tied to the investigation?
Investigators attribute 42 heavy-duty vehicle thefts across the Paris region to the network, resulting in estimated damages of approximately 1,3 milhões de euros.
What was the outcome of the recent legal appeal?
The defense attorney, Me Alexandre Simonin, asked the Versailles Investigating Court to free his client, but the request was unsuccessful, leaving the suspect in pretrial detention.
What measures do you think logistics companies should adopt to protect commercial fleets from advanced electronic theft tactics?
Worth a look