The thieves managed to ambush around 15 lorries on a busy road on Monday evening, making off with an unknown value of cargo.
The operation began with a fire and the release of smoke at the municipality of Perthes, causing the vehicles heading towards Vitry-le-François to slow down. The criminals had set fire to wooden pallets and tyres on the road, leading the drivers to believe it was a blockade due to ongoing social movements in response to pension reform in France.
However, the drivers quickly realized that something was amiss as hooded men descended upon the road and attacked three lorries, one of which belonged to online retailer Amazon. The well-organized group managed to steal some of the cargo before fleeing the scene.
Although the French gendarmes were alerted, they arrived after the thieves had already fled. Witnesses reported seeing two cars near the site of the ambush, but the criminals have not yet been apprehended. Two lorry drivers sustained minor injuries, with one of them intervening to prevent the robbers from breaking into his lorry.
While cargo thefts are not uncommon in France, this particular heist was carried out with meticulous planning and execution. The authorities are investigating the incident and appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the capture of the criminals.
