A total of 10 arrests were announced on Friday by Greek Police as part of a lengthy investigation into a car theft ring, with another 28 individuals named in a voluminous indictment.

The alleged gang of car thieves apparently had a “penchant” for specific late model vehicles, such as the Toyota Yaris and CH-R, the Peugeot 2008 και 3008 and the BMW X2, using state-of-the-art equipment imported from abroad to bypass security and alarm systems.

The specific models are reportedly at the top of car thieves’ preferences in the country.

The profits in this criminal case reportedly revolved around forging documents to make it appear as though the vehicles were imported, second hand, from west European countries and to then sell them as fast as possible in the domestic market at cut-rate prices.

Additionally, all of the stolen vehicles appear to have been registered and provided license plates by one transport ministry office, namely, that of Halkida, in south-central Greece. However, none of the unsuspecting new owners of the stolen cars is a resident of large Evia Island, where Halkida has jurisdiction.

Additionally, alleged members of the ring would also lease high-end vehicles and then report them stolen after a few days. One car lease company has reported stolen cars valued at a total of 300,000 euros from this scam.

The ring members would place car ads on internet platforms to attract potential buyers for the stolen vehicle. Only a first name and cell phone number for a device that would later be discarded were given. The suspects also took care to leave no evidence as to their identity when meeting with potential buyers and when turning over the vehicles.

The ringleader has been identified as a 54-year-old German national living in the Nea Makri township, east of Athens proper. The suspect is accused of running a “shell” company as a cover.