Even the car in the photo turned out to be stolen!

Under the instructions of the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Istanbul Police Department Public Order Branch Directorate Auto Theft Bureau teams started an investigation against stolen vehicles.

According to the news of Habertürk correspondent Mustafa Şekeroğlu, in the studies carried out as a project, a network that was determined to commit fraud by changing the identification information of vehicles was detected. Thereupon, the investigation was deepened.

THE METHOD OF THE NETWORK HAS BEEN REVEALED

The operation method of the network was also revealed in the investigation carried out by the police teams. It was learned that the suspects first identified vehicles that were severely damaged and became unusable due to accidents, fire or natural disasters. Then, they adapted the chassis and engine numbers of these vehicles to the confiscated or seized vehicles they obtained from abroad or from the market. It was revealed that the suspects, who changed the identification information of the vehicles with this method, sold the cars they put on the market to third parties and defrauded many citizens.

120 MILLION LIRA PROFIT FROM 61 VEHICLES

Deepening the investigation, the Auto Theft Bureau teams investigated the connections of the network and the transactions it carried out, one by one. During the investigations, it was claimed that the suspects gained approximately 120 million liras of unfair profit from 61 different vehicles. Following the evidence obtained, an operation decision was made against the network.

SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION IN 4 PROVINCES

A simultaneous operation was organized in Istanbul-based Çanakkale, Ordu and Samsun on October 13, 2026, under the coordination of the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. During the raids on the specified addresses, 17 suspects who were found to be connected to 61 separate incidents were caught and detained.

THE PHOTO IN THE BEDROOM DRAWED ATTENTION

During the operation, the photo of a luxury car hung on the bedroom wall of one of the suspects attracted the attention of the police teams. The teams investigated the condition of the vehicle in the photo and determined that the car was also stolen. Thus, it turned out that the vehicle in the photo that the suspect hung in his bedroom was also linked to the investigation.

A PUSH GUN AND 50 CARTRIDGE WAS SEIZED

During the searches carried out at the suspects' addresses, 1 shotgun and 50 cartridges were seized. Proceedings were initiated against the 17 detained suspects for the crimes of establishing and membership in an organization to commit a crime, aggravated fraud, forgery of official documents, violation of the anti-smuggling law, and destroying, concealing or altering criminal evidence. It was learned that the suspects' procedures at the police station are continuing.