Toulouse: repeated thefts of auto parts in a residence, the inhabitants form patrols
For several days, cars have been regularly vandalized on rue de las Brugues in Guilhermy. Residents do night rounds.
“They do what they have to do and then they leave.” Judikaël Lemaire is upset. President of the co-ownership trustee of the Côte Golf residence located at 11 rue de las Brugues in Guilhermy, he himself was the victim of acts of vandalism recently committed in the residence.
During the night of February 7 to 8, then again that of February 14 to 15, five cars parked in the private underground car park of the residence were methodically vandalized. Judikael’s Audi A3 was not spared. Like the other cars attacked, the right rear window of the vehicle was smashed. The pairs of front and rear headlights were stolen. “Mine are full-led, the scientific police explained to me that they were particularly wanted”, indicates Judikaël. The phenomenon would not be endemic and would also have recently affected Colomiers and the district of Saint-Cyprien.
The traces erased with the extinguisher
Judikaël’s bumper was also broken, and the passenger compartment covered with fire extinguisher. A technique that allows the perpetrators of damage to erase their tracks and prevent them from being prosecuted. Above all, the foam is reputed to be corrosive and therefore dangerous for the electronic circuits of the vehicle. “I’m waiting to find out if the car is good for scrapping or not,” sighs Judikaël, who has filed a complaint. In any case, he has already lost a lot of money in the case. “I bought it for €30,000 and the insurance only reimbursed me for half,” he explains. Another victim, insured by third party, was only offered a laundromat, insufficient to repair the damage caused by the product of the extinguishers.
“We become a little paranoid”
In response, residents decided to organize night patrols in the parking lot. “The municipal police explained to us that they only had one patrol for the entire Saint-Simon sector and could not help us,” testifies Judikaël. Tuesday evening, Since residents therefore take turns every hour from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. in the basement. Nicolas and Joseph provided the slot from midnight to 1 a.m. Wednesday evening. “We’ve seen a white car parked in front of the garage for two nights,” says Nicolas. “We become a little paranoid,” adds the tenant.
While cameras are being installed and should be operational within ten days, Judikaël is counting on “solidarity” from the occupants of the 120 apartments to ensure rotation. He plans to organize a general meeting to ask for the hiring of a guard. An investigation by the Urban Security of the left bank is underway.