13.10.2026 16:02
In an investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was determined that the identity information of vehicles that were scrapped due to earthquake, fire, and accident was transferred to other vehicles. According to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's findings, a “change” procedure was performed on 11 vehicles, 5 of which were subject to seizure and lien and 6 of which were brought from abroad. In an operation carried out in 9 provinces centered in Ankara, 11 of 17 suspects were detained, and 6 suspects are being sought.
An operation was launched against a network alleged to have changed the engine and chassis numbers of heavily damaged vehicles in Ankara using chemical liquids and transferred them to other vehicles. Efforts to catch 6 fugitive suspects are continuing.
IDENTITIES OF SCRAPPED VEHICLES WERE USED
As a result of the work of the teams of the Auto Theft Bureau Office of the Public Order Branch Directorate of the Ankara Provincial Police Department, it was determined that the engine and chassis numbers of heavily damaged vehicles of different makes and models had been tampered with.
During the investigation, it was determined that the engine and chassis information of vehicles damaged beyond repair due to earthquake, fire or traffic accident was erased or altered and transferred to other vehicles. It was alleged that the suspects matched vehicles of the same make and model and used the records of heavily damaged vehicles on other cars.
“CHANGE” FOR VEHICLES WITH ARREST ORDERS AND THOSE BROUGHT FROM ABROAD
According to the determinations of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a “change” procedure was carried out on a total of 11 vehicles, 5 of which had arrest orders and were under seizure and 6 of which were brought to Türkiye from abroad. Thus, it was determined that the vehicles' real identity information was changed and they were used under different records.
CHEMICAL TAMPERING WITH ENGINE AND CHASSIS NUMBERS
One of the striking details of the investigation was the method used. It was alleged that the suspects applied chemical liquid to the sections containing the engine and chassis numbers of the vehicles, changed the existing numbers, and then adapted the information belonging to heavily damaged vehicles to these vehicles.
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION IN 9 PROVINCES
On October 13, upon the instruction of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a simultaneous operation was carried out in Istanbul, Denizli, Afyonkarahisar, Manisa, Edirne, Amasya, Kocaeli and Ağrı, centered in Ankara. Of the 17 suspects for whom arrest warrants had been issued, 11 were taken into custody.
6 FUGITIVE SUSPECTS WANTED
It was reported that efforts to catch 6 suspects who could not be found at their addresses are continuing. Within the scope of the investigation, the supply chain of the vehicles that underwent the “change” procedure, from which vehicles the identity information was transferred, and the connections among the suspects are being investigated.