As first reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung , a group of 18 employees at BMW has stolen for an estimated 4 million dollars of parts from their employer, selling them off through internet auctions.
Stealing everything from blank keys, wheel covers to gear sticks, the most profitable item for them were stolen seats. In order to get those parts out of the plant, forged production orders were given to colleagues, who pulled the items off of the production line for quality control purposes. The money made from these fraudulent sales were transferred to foreign bank accounts, partly in Turkey.
Among the group, two were long-time BMW employees, while another worked in a contractual position for the company. The fraud was identified by BMW investigators, who passed over the matter to the police. The thieves are now facing charges of theft, handling stolen goods and deception.
Stealing everything from blank keys, wheel covers to gear sticks, the most profitable item for them were stolen seats. In order to get those parts out of the plant, forged production orders were given to colleagues, who pulled the items off of the production line for quality control purposes. The money made from these fraudulent sales were transferred to foreign bank accounts, partly in Turkey.
Among the group, two were long-time BMW employees, while another worked in a contractual position for the company. The fraud was identified by BMW investigators, who passed over the matter to the police. The thieves are now facing charges of theft, handling stolen goods and deception.