Volvo V70 with a disassembled front. The model is popular for EPA tractors.
The Skellefteå Police has seen an increase in visible car parts stolen in the nearby area. The crimes have been targeting Volvo cars and is different from the thefts perpetrated by international gangs.
Norran has talked to a woman living in Morö Backe who has chosen to be anonymous. Her car was in a carport in a protected spot and the thieves have been able to take apart the front in a professional manner.
– I woke up in the morning and was heading to work when I discovered that the whole front of the car was missing.. I was nonplussed and it's not something you expect. I felt hopeless, the woman says.
– The car is in the garage now and cannot be used, it’s not so much money with the excess being SEK 1,500 but we’re without one of our cars so my husband has to walk to work. I have 10 km to my job so I need the car, the woman says with resignation.
The cabling has been cut off and in general the thefts have been carried out with professional dissemblage.
Thomas Söderlund at Intakt Bilskador has received a total of six vehicles with missing parts.
The garage Intakt has received four Volvo V70 with the front part stolen. The fronts have been disassembled with a certain refinement and without damaging the cars.
– The whole front is gone, they have connected them and cut the cables. The cost for all spare parts and the work for such a job is SEK 20,000, says Thomas Söderlund, Exakt Bilskador.
– The model is often converted to EPA tractors and popular within the EPA culture, says Thomas.
Volvo XC70 without lights. The thieves have been able to open the hood and disassemble the lights.
The car company has also received two Volvo XC70 with stolen headlights.
– They have somehow managed to open the hood without damaging it. There is no way of getting to the lights without opening the hood and there are no signs of damage, says Thomas Söderlund at Intakt Bilskador.
Daniel Karlsson at the Skellefteå Police. “We have seen an increase in theft of visible car parts.”
Daniel Karlsson, operative coordinator at the Skellefteå Police confirms that there is a crime wave.
– We have previously seen similar criminality and it has involved local actors and been youth related. When we see that it is a certain type of car model like in this case we target our efforts based on that. We are currently working specifically against this type of criminality in the local area, he says.
He points out that an individual case that gets closed down still can contribute to the police gaining an overall view.
– We think that there may be people who have important information about this and we gladly receive tips from the general public. Now in winter holiday times there is a risk of this type of crimes increasing and it is good to be extra attentive, says Daniel.