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Theft

Cable theft leaves French village cut off from internet and phone

Thieves target the valuable copper inside the wire. Such thefts are on the rise

SEE: the 10 cars most-prized by thieves in France in 2023

Cars that draw the eye attract unwanted attention too

Rise in ‘home-jackings’ in France: culprits trick way into houses

A spate of high-profile cases has drawn attention to the phenomenon over the past year

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SEE: the 10 most stolen cars in France in 2023

Thefts increased by 15% last year with SUVs particularly targeted

Big rise in car thefts in France: these are the models most stolen

Some of the country’s best selling cars are among those most likely to be taken, with three regions particularly affected

How to spot fake sellers of calendars in France

Warnings issued after the number of scams begins to rise once again

Rise in car thefts in France, SUVs and hybrids remain main targets

We explain which car makes are most stolen and where in France this is mostly likely to happen

Carte Vitale: What do I do if I lose my French health insurance card?

We look at what you should do if you lose your carte Vitale

It was not all bad: Five positive French news stories

From falling inflation to a swimming pool for dogs, here are some news stories that could bring a smile to your face

French police pose as buyers to recover €140,000 stolen Bugatti

The children’s vehicle was taken during a burglary of a property in Castres, southern France

Map: Which areas of France are worse for house burglaries?

Urban or rural, the second-home effect, Covid impact: newly released data reveals key trends around break-ins in France

Pet thefts on rise in France: what to do if it happens to your animal

There are 22 million pets in France and they are increasingly being targeted – often to order – by thieves

Nantes basilica’s ‘golden angels’ found 13 years after being stolen

The statues had been taken down from the church’s spire for renovation works, when they disappeared

Man spends drunken night in French supermarket, €3,000 of damage

The intruder hid from staff and then helped himself to crisps, prawns, cocktail sausages, alcohol and more

Cannes restaurants lose thousands of euros to card machine scam

Fraudsters quickly swap the restaurant card machine for their own, meaning that future customer payments go straight into their account

Petrol theft and ‘siphoning’ on rise in France as fuel costs soar

Businesses and individuals report more cases of people stealing fuel from tanks. Some areas are now selling petrol or diesel for around €2 per litre and rising

Would our French house insurance cover our new electric bikes?

Where the bike is stored and how it is secured will affect your insurance cover in the event of theft

How to insure and prove value of expensive items at your French home

Pieces of jewellery, art or antique furniture may fall outside of standard home insurance contracts. We explain what to do

‘Hypnosis’ scam spreading across northern France but hard to prove

More women have come forward to say they have been ‘mentally manipulated’ into handing over their valuables by a mysterious man with a black stone

Toyota Prius tops list of most stolen car model in France in 2021

Over 120,000 cars and motorbikes were stolen last year, the equivalent of 336 every day

Burglaries, scams, attacks: how crime rates vary across France

New figures from the interior ministry show rates in 2021 were often higher in the north and south-east

Risk of parcel theft increases in run up to Christmas in France

People who live in apartment blocks are most targeted with police calling for a change concerning who has access to master keys to unlock postboxes

Are French hotels responsible for room thefts?

According to the Code Civil, hotels in France have a responsibility to thefts from one of their rooms or carpark

New security measures on way after Macron’s health pass leaked online

Changes for QR codes being worked on after the president and French prime minister had to replace their codes. What should you do if your pass is stolen?

What to do if you are among 1.4 million hit by Paris Covid data theft

Hospital apologises to victims and advises that they exercise ‘the greatest vigilance’ to avoid email, phone and SMS scams

Digne-les-Bains: Pool builder flees to Corsica with customer deposits

Volunteer firefighter who promised families he would install swimming pools earlier this year has taken deposits worth thousands and now cannot be contacted

20-metre hedge stolen from outside town hall in southwest France

The hedge, planted by volunteers, disappeared overnight. Local officials have contacted police

Live in Tarn-et-Garonne? Watch out for the fake census scam

Fraudsters are posing as census officials and entering homes to steal money. Use these tips to spot the scam and stay safe

French oyster farmer’s clever trick to stop seasonal theft

Oysters are commonly eaten in France during the end of year festivities, and their popularity can make oyster farmers a target for thieves... but one has a neat way to gain information

Was your car stolen in France? Enjoy parking fine relief

Drivers will no longer have to pay a parking fine before they can contest it after a ruling by France’s constitutional court.

Banksy Paris theft suspect claims links to artist

A man suspected of having stolen a Banksy artwork from a street sign in Paris has claimed that he was working on the instructions of the anonymous artist himself.

Thief-proofing your bike in France

How do I get an anti-theft marking on my second-hand bike – the marking which traces it back to me if stolen and then recovered? What’s the cost of this?

Two arrested over Banksy artwork stolen in Paris

Two people have been arrested in connection with the theft of a Banksy artwork in Paris, which is still missing.

‘Acrobats’ who robbed moving trucks in France arrested

Ten men suspected of robbing €3.5 million worth of goods from lorries travelling at up to 90kph on motorways across France have been arrested, with police calling the thieves “acrobats and artists”.

Wine crime is not just a summer problem in France

Warmer months see a rise in thefts from wine cellars - but criminals are looking for opportunities all year round

'Banksy' artwork stolen from Paris street

Stencilled image of rat was on the back of a traffic sign near the Pompidou Centre

Alarm bells ring after thefts from historic chapels

Criminals have stolen the bells from four chapels in the eastern Var in just one month

Theft in home scams by fake police on rise in France

THEFT scams by criminals posing as police officers and plumbers are on the rise in France, police have warned, with elderly people especially at risk.

Chemical puts French police on trail of theft suspects

Police turn to science in hunt for criminal gang after traditional methods fail

Banksy terrorism artwork stolen from Bataclan in Paris

A graffiti artwork widely believed to be by British artist Banksy, and an homage to the victims of the 2015 Paris terror attacks, has been stolen from the Bataclan club.

France on alert by contactless cards theft

A Flaw in the contactless payment system means criminals can continue to use cards even if they have been reported stolen, warns consumer watchdog 60 Millions de Consommateurs.

Diesel thieves rigged pumps to charge €0

Service stations lost thousands of litres of diesel after thieves reset pumps using simple internet passwords to charge €0 per litre.

28 breeding pairs of rare French tortoise stolen

Thieves have stolen 56 tortue d’Hermann tortoises - 28 breeding pairs - from a Corsica zoo but it is not known if they will be trafficked or freed.

French police steal bags to raise theft awareness

Police in Strasbourg stole handbags and valuables from over 30 tourists and residents in public places this week as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of pickpocketing and theft.

Seven accused of stealing €3m ancient maps

Hundreds of maps, some of which date back to the 15th and 16th centuries were stolen from libraries across France

Homeless man who stole €500k found...but without cash

The mystery homeless man who stole €500,000 from an unlocked office in Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport has been found and arrested, but without the cash.

Oystermen give 2 tonnes after theft

Support comes after theft causes €40,000 loss

May the force be with you… but don’t touch

Mayor fears opening of new Star Wars film will lead to more thefts of town sign

Urban runabout 'the most stolen car in France'

But BMW is the favourite marque for criminals, according to 40 millions d'automobilistes

Thieves steal seven tonnes of oysters

This yours? Police seek owners of 200 stolen objects

Police in Bordeaux and Lille have launched a search for owners of almost 200 valuable objects that were stolen from private homes across France between December 2011 and February 2017.

Winemakers blamed for grape thefts

An estimated seven tonnes of grapes have been taken from vineyards in Bordeaux since mid-September

Mugger fighting for life after being caught by crowd

Man stabbed after being beaten up by witnesses to theft

€2m gem thieves say sorry for the mess

Thieves who grabbed €2million of diamonds from a Paris dealer left a note to apologise.

Stolen lawnmower was doing 90kph

A thief was caught with an expensive robot lawnmower in his car after the mower alerted its owner it was doing 90kmp down the route départementale.

Security mark your bike

TO GIVE yourself the best chance of getting your bike back if it is stolen, you can now have it security-marked.