“A wild burglary”: in the Oise, the heavy damage to a Leroy Merlin after the thieves’ nocturnal spree

2023-11-14 12:40:03

“It’s a pretty wild burglary, we’re far from Arsène Lupin, the gentleman burglar,” reports a source close to the investigation. On the night of November 6 to 7, a team of four individuals literally stormed the Leroy-Merlin store in the ZAC Jaux-Venette, near Compiègne (Oise).

A week after the incident, the burglars have not yet been found. But the inventory, on the other hand, has already been established. And the damage is significant: not only did the criminals leave with 20,000 euros in cash, but the French brand specializing in home improvement also deplores at least 21,000 euros in losses in stolen and damaged equipment. As for the damage caused within the store itself on the night of the incident, it has not yet been estimated.

Because that evening, the burglars were determined to strip the sign and used the many tools at hand to ransack the place: grinders, grinders, drills and even ladders… They also targeted the self-checkouts. service using crowbars and axes. “They used all this equipment which can no longer be put back for sale because some were very damaged,” laments a person close to the case. This comes under material damage. »

The exterior lighting cables were cut

In addition to the equipment, the entrance door to the security room was also damaged, as was the alarm system which was deactivated. Several doors were forced, including emergency exits, as well as the vault. The coin mechanism was found completely crushed.

Everything suggests that the team of criminals seems to have carefully prepared their attack. After drilling a hole in a fence, they then cut the cables which power the exterior lighting which could have been triggered by their passage before their intrusion into the store.

Several stores of the brand already targeted

On site, numerous samples were taken before the brand decided to reopen its doors to its customers the following Wednesday. DNA analyzes are still in progress.

Investigators are also working to determine whether it is a local gang or a team organized on a national scale. Several stores in the chain have in fact been targeted by burglaries in recent weeks in the country, such as in Houdemont (Meurthe-et-Moselle) at the beginning of September or in Charleville-Mézières (Ardennes) last month. When contacted, the store management did not respond to our requests.