Serial robberies with a Porsche: a Romanian is accused of robbing 10 supermarkets in one day. What method was he using?
A 28-year-old Romanian, Matei T., is accused by German prosecutors of having committed a spectacular series of thefts from supermarkets, using a Porsche Panamera to move quickly between stores. According to the investigators, in a single day he would have robbed no less than 10 units in the state of Hessa, and in total the file includes 16 counts of theft.
The 28-year-old Romanian is accused of having committed a series of thefts PHOTO: Video capture/ Bild
The German prosecutor's office has officially filed charges against Matei T., a 28-year-old man from Romania, suspected of stealing branded products from supermarkets in several regions. Although an important part of the facts took place in Hessa, the investigators say that the Romanian would have also committed thefts in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, but also in Italy and Great Britain.
In total, the file includes 16 charges. The man is suspected of being part of a criminal gang specialized in stealing expensive products that can be easily resold.
The “Porsche thief” and the method used
According to the indictment, Matei T. arrived at the targeted stores behind the wheel of a Porsche Panamera. “He would come down determinedly, with a large, empty rucksack on his back, grab a shopping cart and load up on brand name products in large quantities.” investigators describe the modus operandi, according to the German publication Bild.
Items stolen include coffee, shampoo, chocolate, razors, toothbrushes and toothpaste. After making sure that the products did not have security systems, he quietly left the store and drove away in the luxury car.
The Romanian calmly left the store and left in the luxury car PHOTO: Video capture/ Bild
Ten shots in one day
The images on the surveillance cameras show the alert pace in which he was acting. First, Matei T. entered a Rewe supermarket in Wetter (Hessa), where he stole shampoo and toothpaste worth almost 700 euros.
Two hours later, he was filmed again in Dautphtetal, about 20 kilometers away, where he stole €165 worth of shampoo. Just 20 minutes later, he hit another Rewe supermarket in Steffenberg, 25 kilometers away, where he stole toothpaste worth almost €500.
According to the investigators, this was only part of the “tour” that day: in total, the Romanian would have stolen from 10 supermarkets in one day. Prosecutors say the man had been in Germany since June 2023 “with one purpose: to commit crimesThe damaged stores have repeatedly filed complaints and provided surveillance camera footage to the authorities.
Arrested in Italy and extradited to Germany
At some point, Matei T. was placed under surveillance and detained at least once. In mid-August, during a meeting with his accomplices in Hessa, the police confiscated boxes and plastic bags filled with chocolate, razor blades, coffee, as well as an amount of money in the order of thousands of euros. However, the man was then released.
The Frankfurt public prosecutor's office subsequently took over the case, linked the various thefts and issued a European arrest warrant. Matei T. was caught on August 9, in Aprilia, Italy, and extradited to Germany.
“At first glance, these appear to be many minor offences. However, I recognized the connections and consulted other cases. Based on this, we were able to get an arrest warrant and press charges“, said Attorney General Dominik Mies.
Matei T. is to answer for his actions before the Frankfurt Regional Court, where the trial is scheduled to begin on January 15.
