20 Supercars Stolen from High-Security Parking in Paris in Minutes

Illustration of a supercar garage. (Wikimedia Commons/Damian Morys)

JAKARTA - More than 20 luxury sports cars, including Porsches and Ferraris, were stolen from a high-security car park in Paris, France in a theft that lasted only a few minutes.

The car park on Rue Ingenieur Robert Keller, just a few minutes' drive from the Eiffel Tower, was targeted early Sunday morning, leading to a police chase that took place across the city throughout the night.

A gang crime unit of the French police confirmed that the Porsche and Maserati were among the stolen cars. Twelve suspects have been summoned for questioning and may be detained until Wednesday in accordance with the police law on organized crime.

A Ferrari 458, which starts at £115,000 but can reach £1.2 million for rarer models, was also stolen, reports daily newspaper Le Parisien.

The owner, who was not named, said "incredible cars" had been stolen, according to The National (19/5).

Although his car is insured and it is likely that other cars are as well, he is worried about how he will get compensation for the theft. He believes the thieves know exactly what type of vehicle is available in the parking lot.

"It's clear they didn't choose that place by chance," he said.

Two cars were found within hours - including a more common Renault Captur - using GPS technology, Le Parisien reported.

Meanwhile, the head of the Christian Workers' Federation Police Department, Axel Ronde, described the theft as "spectacular." He wrote on his social media: "Never have so many cars of this type been stolen."

He said it was possible that the cars had been driven out of the country, either across the border or onto container ships.

"Unless they want to dismantle it first to sell its spare parts," he said.

A witness told TF1 television channel: "We thought they were people from the parking lot who came out. Porsche cars, BMW 4x4. There was a convoy of at least 20 cars. Each drove a car. Then two people came out on motorcycles."

Separately, the company that manages the parking lot security, Sumer Vault, said the site offers "multiple cameras recording 24/7", patrols every three hours, and a "completely secure and impenetrable" gate that can only be accessed using biometric data.