USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs Office
The U.S. Army Europe Office of the Provost Marshal has issued an advisory about a scam where good Samaritans rendering aid after traffic accidents have their own vehicles stolen.
There have been three accidents in the last 10 days.
The subject intentionally causes an accident on the autobahn and then steals the car of the person who stops to help. The subject is able to do so because the keys are left in the ignition and the car is left unlocked.
The subject is described as Caucasian, of slender build, short brown hair, approximately 5’7” to 5’9”, 20-30 years of age and possibly of eastern European descent. He was wearing black jeans and a blue sweatshirt. The thief was unkempt and was possibly abusing drugs or alcohol.
On Nov. 20, the last stolen sedan was recovered undamaged in the ferry harbor in the town of Sassnitz-Mukran on the island of Ruegen, Germany. German Police were able to determine that two unidentified males fled on a ferry to Trelleborg, Sweden.
In addition to the monetary loss to some of the victims, this new scam causes imminent danger to the health and lives of the thieves, as well as to the innocent people who get involved in provoked traffic accidents.
