17.07.2026 14:21
32 suspects, including doctors and businessmen, were caught in an operation for dismantling and selling parts of vehicles seized in 8 provinces centered in Istanbul, which were held in custodial parking lots under lien and arrest warrants, and for conducting irregular procedures by falsely showing the vehicles as damaged with fake expert reports.
The Public Order Branch Directorate, Auto Theft Bureau Office, conducted an operation against a gang stealing from impound lots following approximately 6 months of technical and physical surveillance. Simultaneous raids were carried out in Ankara, Bursa, Izmir, Antalya, Sanliurfa, Balikesir, and Tekirdag, centered in Istanbul. During the raids, 32 suspects were detained, including O.T., O.T., Y.K., B.T., and I.A., who were identified as the network's leaders. It was reported that the raided locations included three impound lots and two warehouses in the Tuzla, Maltepe, and Sultanbeyli districts.
THE GANG'S METHODS REVEALED
The methods used by the suspects during the thefts were uncovered during interrogations at the Auto Theft Bureau Office. It was learned that in the first method, the suspects dismantled valuable parts of vehicles left in impound lots and sold them as spare parts.
THEY PREPARED EXPERT REPORTS WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
In the second method followed by the suspects, it was determined that they removed parts such as engines, doors, and seats from cars that had been held in impound lots for a long time and were to be sold at auction, before the auction. Thus, they purchased the car at one-tenth of its value at the auction, then reattached the parts and sold the vehicles to third parties. It was learned that if the suspects failed to purchase the car at auction, they would sell the same parts to the buyer. It was stated that in some auctions, the suspects used artificial intelligence to prepare fake expert reports for undamaged vehicles, buying the vehicles cheaply as if they were damaged.
THEY PREVENTED THE STATE FROM COLLECTING DEBTS
It was also determined that members of the auto theft gang facilitated the sale of vehicles that could not be sold due to their owners' tax debts. It was learned that the suspects, who executed an incredible plan to sell vehicles seized due to the owners' other affairs, first made the person indebted to them supposedly. Exploiting a provision that prioritizes private claims over public claims, the suspects seized the car for their alleged receivables, sold the vehicle to third parties, deducted their commissions, and gave the car's proceeds to the former owner.
A HOSPITAL OWNER AND BUSINESSMEN ALSO DETAINED
It was reported that among those detained were a doctor who owns a hospital and numerous business people who were customers of the suspects who prevented the state from collecting tax debts using this method.
THEY MADE A FRAUD OF 1.5 BILLION LIRAS
As a result of the police investigation, it was revealed that the suspects have so far made a fraud of approximately 1.5 billion liras using these methods. It was learned that MASAK (Financial Crimes Investigation Board) is continuing its examination of the incident, and the actual amount of the fraud will emerge after the report is prepared.
"THERE IS NO CASH NOW, DISMANTLE A FEW CAR PARTS FROM THERE"
During the technical and physical surveillance, it was observed that the suspects were quite relaxed. In some conversations, when they needed money, they gave instructions like 'There is no cash right now. Dismantle a few radiators from there and convert them into cash.'
The suspects, whose procedures were completed at the Public Order Branch Directorate, were referred to the Anatolian Courthouse on charges of 71 counts of Qualified Fraud, Bid Rigging, Forgery of Official Documents, and Breach of Trust, among others.