“It is a great reward for investigators,” says Colonelle Christelle Tarrolle, head of the Orléans research section (Loiret) of the gendarmerie. Behind her, this June 26, 2025, there are 13 motorhomes which have just been offered to the police by the Macif.
These vehicles are not found there by chance. They are part of a more important group which was found by gendarmes following a operation to dismantle a large network of traffickers, active throughout the national territory. Starting from a report, the Orléanaire investigators concentrated their “efforts on motorhomes, even if the network also turned utility or individual vehicles”, specifies Colonel Tarrolle.
The criminals reused legal access to the vehicle registration system (SIV) to register stolen vehicles, while physically modifying the serial numbers on the chassis.
In total, the investigators were able to identify 151 stolen and make-up motorhomes, representing a prejudice of 8.4 million euros. Two legal operations were carried out. “At first, we challenged the heads of the network, made up of French or binational people,” explains the section of section. “Then, a national make -up removal operation made it possible to find 58 vehicles, sometimes located abroad. »»
An estimated donation at 700,000 euros
Of the 58 vehicles seized, 13 had become the ownership of the Macif, the insured having already been compensated. The insurer then chose to offer them to the national gendarmerie. A donation estimated at more than 700,000 euros.
“This gift from 13 motorhomes illustrates a long-standing commitment to the Macif,” explains Ingrid Salvayre, head of the antifraude fight at the Macif. “Indeed, we regularly make donations of vehicles to the gendarmerie units, whether for proximity missions or for elite units such as GIGN. »»
Rather than being destroyed or sold at low prices, these vehicles will be used wisely. “For a mutualist insurer like the Macif, this exceptional gift to the gendarmerie is a means of exploiting these vehicles which can no longer be used or sold on the market, while supporting the gendarmerie proximity and security missions,” concludes Ingrid Salvayre.
Motorhomes will be mainly assigned to mobile brigades, in order to strengthen the presence of gendarmes in rural areas. Others will be used for victims or road safety on the motorway areas.
On the other hand, for those who had bought the vehicles in good faith from the receivers, the case is far from over. “For some, there could not be any doubt: when you buy a vehicle at 20,000 euros instead of 60,000 or 80,000, with very few kilometers, we know that there is a problem,” says Colonelle Tarrolle, before adding: “Anyway, these vehicles can no longer drive, because standard numbers are false. »»
If the initial owner is systematically compensated by the insurer, buyers in good faith must turn to their insurance or the courts to try to obtain compensation.
