On the morning of Saturday, August 23, a woman in her fifties was the victim of a violent carjacking in Mulhouse, in the Porte du Miroir district. Two minors wearing hoods and dark glasses attacked her before stealing her vehicle, taking her personal work belongings and computer equipment in the process. The case, handled by the property damage unit of the Mulhouse departmental security service, reached an unexpected conclusion on Monday, August 25: the car was found abandoned in Soufflenheim, and the two suspects were arrested while attempting another theft in Haguenau. This double incident illustrates the mobility of offenders and the vigilance of law enforcement, particularly the National Gendarmerie and the National Police. In this context, vehicle safety, ranging from carjacking prevention to theft management, is taking on a more important dimension than ever, with repercussions also for insurance companies like AXA and car rental companies like Europcar.
The carjacking in Mulhouse: assault and robbery under threat
On the morning of Saturday, August 23, the carjacking took place in the heart of Mulhouse, on Rue Sainte-Catherine, a bustling thoroughfare near a busy covered market. The victim, a woman in her fifties, was in her Renault when two hooded individuals suddenly approached. Wearing dark glasses to conceal their identities, they forcibly immobilized the driver. After a brief altercation, the woman was violently removed from her car.
The methodology employed is reminiscent of certain cases reported in the region, particularly in Nevers, where similar incidents had occurred several years earlier. The thieves’ loot was as valuable as it was vulnerable: in addition to the Renault, they stole all the victim’s work computer equipment, their cell phone, and their bank card. This rapid operation highlights the rise in violence in this type of crime, highlighting the risks faced by road users on a daily basis.
The choice of the Renault comes at a time when urban models such as those from Peugeot, Citroën, and DS Automobiles are particularly popular, both for their accessibility and popularity. By targeting a common model, the perpetrators maximize their chances of escape in a densely populated environment. The use of dark glasses and balaclavas demonstrates a degree of preparation, intended to effectively conceal their identity from witnesses and surveillance cameras. 📍 Location: Rue Sainte-Catherine, Mulhouse
- ⏰ Time: Shortly before 9 a.m.
- 👥 Suspects: Two 15-year-old minors, wearing balaclavas
- 🚗 Vehicle: Renault
- 💼 Loot: Computer equipment, cell phone, bank card
- The investigation, assigned to the Mulhouse property crime squad, quickly focused on a local lead while maintaining a broader territorial coverage, due to the suspects’ profiles and their modus operandi. This squad, known for its specialization in vehicle-related offenses and thefts, relies, among other things, on cross-departmental collaborations with the
National Police and the National Gendarmerie to multiply the angles of attack and analyze crime scenes. Element
| Description | Impact | Time of attack |
|---|---|---|
| Morning, time of heavy traffic | Difficulty for passersby to intervene quickly | Modus operandi |
| Violent, under threat | Increase in the seriousness of similar crimes | Type of vehicle |
| Renault, popular model | Ease of resale or use of stolen vehicles | Discover everything you need to know about carjacking: methods used, advice on how to protect yourself, steps to take in the event of an attack, and prevention to ensure your safety behind the wheel. |
Two days after the attack, on Monday, August 25, the stolen car was located in Soufflenheim, a small town near Mulhouse. The investigative team, always on the lookout, succeeded, thanks to meticulous research and the use of physical evidence present on the first suspect, including the ignition key, in tracing the location where the car had been abandoned. The car, clearly disabled, demonstrated the perpetrators’ difficulty in maintaining their movement after the initial theft. Soufflenheim, although less urbanized than Mulhouse, thus happened to be the scene of an inadvertent stage in the attempted escape. This stage allowed law enforcement to better understand the perpetrators’ trajectory, their preparation, and their motivations. The fact that the car was found in this location shows that thieves are sometimes forced to abruptly change their plans, creating opportunities for arrest.
The combination of police vigilance and chance—since the two suspects were already attempting a second robbery in Haguenau—facilitated the teenagers’ capture. This sequence of events highlights the need for close collaboration between the National Gendarmerie and the National Police, as well as the effectiveness of systems such as geolocation systems and networked rapid alerts.
🛑 Location: Soufflenheim, entrance to the city
🚨 Intervention: Mulhouse Property Crime Squad 🔑 Key event: Recovering the ignition key from a suspect 📍 Relay: Second aborted robbery in Haguenau 🛡️ Partners: Gendarmerie, National PoliceThe case also contributes to raising awareness of the role that companies specializing in security and insurance can play. Companies such as AXA and partner garage networks, based on Michelin-approved equipment, as well as TotalEnergies stations, are at the heart of proactive measures to prevent automotive risks. Event
- Location
- Impact on the Investigation
- Discovery of the Vehicle
- Soufflenheim
- Identification of Locations Frequented for Storing the Thefts
Arrest of Suspects
| Haguenau | Blocking of the Criminal Chain in Full Renewal | Role of Keys |
|---|---|---|
| In the Suspect’s Hand | Material Evidence Facilitating the Investigation | Discover everything you need to know about carjacking: definitions, methods used, tips for protecting yourself, and steps to follow in the event of an assault. Protect yourself effectively against violent carjacking. |
| Profile and Origin of the Arrested Suspects: Minors in Search of Reference | The two perpetrators of the carjacking, arrested following this event, are 15 years old and from different cities, one from Colmar, the other from Metz. This geographic dimension illustrates the cross-border and cross-regional impacts of certain urban crimes, as well as the potential mobility of young troublemakers in this part of France. | Their age also raises the question of juvenile delinquency and appropriate responses. In a context where prevention and social care measures, like the majority of the population, are often insufficient, these facts highlight the need for increased efforts in terms of education and supervision. |
| These teenagers, whose determination to continue their crimes in Haguenau had failed, demonstrate the complexity of criminal profiles. They are far from isolated cases, and their arrest should encourage the authorities to strengthen their outreach and reintegration efforts for at-risk youth. | 🧑🤝🧑 Age: 15 | 🌍 Origin: Colmar and Metz |
🛤️ Movement between regions
👮♂️ Judicial and social care to come
In their careers, the connection with the automotive sector is crucial, particularly around rarely stolen but popular brands like Peugeot, Citroën, and DS Automobiles. Familiarity with the vehicles, combined with meticulous reconnaissance, facilitates the success of illicit enterprises. The in-depth investigations are based on data provided by Europcar, including the presence of similar vehicles rented fraudulently, and evidence related to previous thefts.
Characteristics
- Details
- Impact
- Age
- 15 years
- Privileged educational dialogue
Hometowns
| Colmar, Metz | Mobility and territorial scope | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Violent robberies, repeat offenses | Increased seriousness of the offenses | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC04YeT579U |
| The role of law enforcement in the fight against carjacking and vehicle theft | Faced with this constantly evolving type of attack, the | National Police |
| and the | National Gendarmerie | are relying more than ever on cooperation between specialized services. Their primary objective is to curb the chain of crime, often marked by repetitive acts and linked to increasingly mobile groups. |
Furthermore, public awareness plays a significant role. Prevention and information campaigns combined with targeted interventions help reduce vulnerability and increase the speed of response for victims and witnesses.
🚓 Cooperation between the National Police and the National Gendarmerie 🎥 Use of video surveillance and geolocation 🔧 Collaboration with car manufacturers 👥 Public awareness and prevention ⚖️ Increased judicial enforcement of repeat offenders
Particular attention is paid to judicial monitoring, which is increasingly demanding given the complexity of cases, particularly involving young offenders. In the Grand Est region, coordination between justice services, law enforcement, and private security companies such as TotalEnergies and Michelin is helping to create a stronger protection ecosystem.
- Prevention, insurance, and economic impact: how automotive companies are responding
- The shockwave caused by carjackings like the one in Mulhouse is not limited to the judicial and police spheres. It also affects all professionals involved in the automotive industry and risk management. Insurance companies, represented by major players such as AXA, regularly adapt their offerings to anticipate losses and effectively cover victims.
- Furthermore, car rental companies like Europcar are strengthening their protocols, particularly around identity checks and fraudulent use prevention. The market is also responding to increased demand for vehicles equipped with sophisticated anti-theft systems, incorporating connected or biometric equipment.
- Infrastructures, such as TotalEnergies stations, are also positioning themselves as part of a prevention strategy, through the provision of secure terminals and partnerships with breakdown and rapid response services. On the equipment manufacturer side, Michelin is focusing its innovations on smart tires that can provide real-time alerts on driving conditions or suspicious anomalies. 📊 Adaptation of insurance offers by AXA
- 🚗 Reinforced protocols at Europcar
🔒 Integration of anti-theft technologies by manufacturers
🔧 Michelin innovations for vehicle safety
Stakeholder
Role
Action in 2025
- AXA
- Insurance
- Updated plans and expanded coverage
- Europcar
- Vehicle rental
| Strengthened rental controls | TotalEnergies | Infrastructure |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment of secure charging stations | Michelin | Operating equipment manufacturer |
| Development of connected tires | Frequently asked questions about carjacking and vehicle safety | What to do in the event of a carjacking? |
| You must remain calm and avoid any physical resistance. The priority is to put your safety before the stolen item. Immediately contact the National Police by dialing 17 or the National Gendarmerie, then notify your insurer. How do law enforcement officers locate a stolen vehicle? | Force personnel use geolocation (if the vehicle is equipped with one), witness statements, municipal video surveillance, and field investigations to track down the thief. | Do teenagers who commit carjacking risk imprisonment? |
| The French justice system takes their age into account and often prioritizes educational and rehabilitation measures, but serious offenses can result in criminal penalties. | Which car brands are most targeted? | Popular models like Renault, Peugeot, Citroën, and DS Automobiles are often targeted because they are numerous and easy to resell. Vehicles equipped with modern security systems are less targeted. |
What devices can you use to protect your car?
Modern anti-theft devices include geolocation, alarms, biometric systems, and monitoring services. Good insurance with AXA or other insurers is essential to limit the financial impact.