According to statistics of the National Gendarmerie forces, a total of 50 vehicles including 23 cars were stolen in the first three months of 2008 in Algiers and 12 cars in Boumerdes province (50 km east of Algiers). Most of the stolen vehicles are of the type Helix, Renault Clio and Express.The same sources reported that the stolen vehicles were supposed to be taken to workshops for dismantling them, selling spare parts or forge them.

On the other hand, data available to Echorouk El Yaoumi doesn’t exclude that these stolen cars are intended to suicide attack workshops of the so called “ Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb “ under the command of Abdul Malik Drodkal alias Abu Musab Abdel- Wadoud.

The same stolen vehicles types were used in suicide attacks in Tizi Ouzou, Boumerdes, and the capital as well as investigations revealed coordination between smuggling and cars theft networks and terrorist organizations. The latest one dismantled the largest network working in Tizi Ouzou, Boumerdes and Algiers. They finance Drudkals’ followers.

• Car theft rose by 45 percent in 7 years

• Lieutenant Samira Ben-Haj Jaloul presented an investigation concerning “ stealing cars in Algeria and the National Gendarmerie’s role in the fight against the phenomenon.”

A significant rise in stolen cars number” has been recorded according to statistics which indicate that the number of stolen cars in 2003 reached 3,077 cars including 1,205 Renault-type. In 2004, it raised to 4,554 including 2004 car stolen of Renault type, 752 Peugeot-type and 216 Mercedes-type. The number increased by 45 percent between 2000 and 2007.

• South gangs target oil companies’ vehicles

The phenomenon aggravated in border areas particularly in the province of Tlemcen in addition to Oran, Belabbes and Ain Timouchent.

A total of 99 cars were stolen in 12 western provinces and the thefts take place in coastal areas especially during summer season from July to September.

• Car owners cheat insurance companies in collusion with criminal networks

• The study presented methods used by car theft gangs and showed new way adopted by these networks through the collusion of some car owners to cheat insurance companies. They dismantle their cars and sell them in form of spare parts. Then, they report the theft to take advantage of compensation.