SFR store robbery: “A case solved thanks to good coordination of services”

Le procureur de la République d'Alès, Abdelkrim Grini. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

The public prosecutor of Alès, Abdelkrim Grini, looks back on the work of the police and the arrest of the suspects.

“This case is revealing of the new practices of delinquents, explains Abdelkrim Grini, the public prosecutor of Alès. To rob the SFR telephone store, Quai du Mas d’Hours, three individuals who do not know each other, but are originally from Lyon, are specially recruited by a sponsor. Two of the robbers are 15 years old, the third is 19 years old".

Still in the context of this operation, two vehicles were stolen in Isère by another team. On Tuesday, the robbers returned to Gard in the two stolen vehicles. A red Renault Clio was used for the theft. The car was then abandoned, engine running, near Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas. The team fled in a Renault Captur.

A new low-end crime

“The case was solved in record time. I would like to salute the work of the police officers of the Alès police station and their coordination with their counterparts in the Loire, the head of the prosecution service is pleased to say. Thanks to geolocation and the city's cameras, the suspects were quickly spotted and identified. They were followed practically in real time and it was noted that they were going back up the Loire."

A quick and well-conducted investigation

"These individuals represent a new form of crime, a low-end crime, where people are recruited on social networks, and where teams are practically disposable. We set up a work unit at the police station in conjunction with the Nîmes Information and Command Room (SIC), investigators at the scene of the robbery, others in charge of geolocation and technical investigations and our colleagues from the Loire for the arrests", adds the Alès commissioner, Emmanuel Dumas.

The latter created a traffic jam between Saint-Étienne and Firminy (Loire) to slow down traffic and make arrests smoothly. "The three individuals had changed clothes to avoid being recognized. They were arrested nearly 300 km away and four hours after these serious events. In the vehicle, the loot was found, valued at nearly 17,000 euros. The two minors were brought before Lyon, the adult was brought before the court this Thursday. We have taken orders for provisional detention pending his trial, this Monday, in immediate appearance."