Tractor-Stealing Romanians Arrested in France, Dauphine Reports

French police arrested four Romanians suspected of being part of a gang that’s stolen 5 million euros ($6.1 million) worth of farm tractors, regional newspaper Le Dauphine reported.

The gang specialized in stealing new tractors from dealerships and stole about 50 of the machines since the end of 2010, with prices ranging from 70,000 euros to 120,000 euros, depending on the model, the newspaper reported.

The four suspects were stopped southeast of Paris this week as they were headed for Romania with a truck carrying three stolen tractors, Le Dauphine wrote. The gang would take the farm equipment through Belgium, Germany and Hungary before selling the tractors in Romania, according to the newspaper.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rudy Ruitenberg in Paris at rruitenberg@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Claudia Carpenter at ccarpenter2@bloomberg.net