Nine Toyota SUVs Stolen in Hradec Králové in Just Three Days

In the Czech city of Hradec Králové, unknown thieves stole nine Toyota SUVs over the course of just three days. According to police, eight of the vehicles have already been located abroad — in Poland.

Police spokeswoman Magdalena Vlčková says the criminals are working in a coordinated and highly professional manner. "An organized group, likely made up of foreigners, is operating with remarkable sophistication. After breaking into a car almost silently, the perpetrator immediately disables all of the vehicle's factory security systems, including the GPS module that reports the car's location," she explained.

Why the stolen cars are so hard to trace

Disabling the built-in GPS module dramatically reduces police chances of quickly locating a stolen car and catching the culprits. According to the police spokeswoman, the loss of location data has been the main obstacle in investigating this string of thefts.

Police are urging owners of such vehicles to consider installing independent security devices that don't rely on the car's factory electronics. Options include a mechanical steering wheel lock, a brake pedal lock, or a separate, independent alarm system.

Previous cases already traced to Poland

Police say that in several earlier cases, stolen vehicles of this same brand were successfully located in Poland — thanks to aftermarket tracking devices that had been installed independently of the factory systems.

"Our regional forensic investigators are working intensively to solve these thefts. At this stage, the working theory is that an organized criminal group, likely made up of foreign nationals, is behind the thefts," Vlčková said. If caught, the perpetrators face up to eight years in prison.

Read also: Prague Castle from the inside: 9 must-see spots within the fortress

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz