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Mannheimer takes back stolen car – police catch him!
A 27-year-old from Mannheim steals back his car, which was previously stolen in Romania, and gets into legal trouble.
Mannheimer takes back stolen car – police catch him!
A curious case in Mannheim leads to an arrest that questions the boundaries between property and theft. A 27-year-old from Mannheim was arrested after he allegedly stole a car in Dortmund. The special thing: it was his own BMW, which had previously been stolen from him in Romania. This reports BO.de.
The man's BMW was stolen during a visit to Romania at the end of April 2025. The injured party reported the theft to both the police in Romania and his insurance company. But just a few weeks after the theft, a 38-year-old from Dortmund bought the car in Germany without knowing that the car was stolen. This transaction raises questions about the security situation and highlights the challenges in the used car market.
Retrieval of the vehicle
However, the 27-year-old, who located his vehicle using tracking data, did not report to the police before traveling to Dortmund. He opened the car with his original key and drove back to Mannheim. This action could have legal consequences, as it remains unclear whether he committed a criminal offense by recovering his property. This complements the perspective of Motor vehicle operation, who notes that there are legal gray areas.
The 38-year-old noticed that his car had been stolen on Thursday morning and then informed the police, who discovered the vehicle in Mannheim. The 27-year-old presented documents proving that he had purchased the car in Great Britain a few years ago. According to the police, the value of the car is 12,000 euros and the car, a 2017 model, was seized.
Investigations and legal implications
Police are now investigating the ownership of the vehicle and trying to locate the original thieves in Romania. Particular attention is paid to a decision by the Federal Court of Justice from 2020, which states that an unlawfully stolen vehicle belongs to third parties acquired in good faith. This legal regulation could have an impact on the outcome of the investigation.
In summary, the case shows the complex challenges in dealing with stolen vehicles and their repatriation. The legal implications are often difficult to understand for both buyers and the original owners.