Andorra Police Link Sispony Number Plate Theft to Vehicle Sales Fraud After Petrol Station Chase Crash
Stolen plates from a resident's car were found on a suspect vehicle that fled without paying and crashed, revealing irregularities in its prior sale amid an ongoing investigation.
Key Points
- Andorra police link stolen Sispony number plates to vehicle sales fraud probe.
- Suspect fled petrol station without paying, crashed after chase, no injuries.
- Mismatched plates on crashed car traced to resident's vehicle in Sispony.
- Driver detained, released; investigation targets irregularities in car's prior sale.
Police in Andorra have linked the theft of number plates from a car in Sispony to a broader investigation into vehicle sales irregularities, following a dramatic chase and crash involving the stolen plates.
The incident unfolded overnight between Saturday and Sunday in the Plans area of Sispony, part of La Massana parish. A resident there awoke around 5:20 a.m. to a police call confirming his vehicle's plates had been found on a suspicious car circulating elsewhere. Officers instructed him to file a report but withheld details on the suspect due to data protection rules. He noted his car was the only one affected among about 20 parked nearby, heightening his initial fears of a targeted act—especially with his young daughter walking metres to school from home.
Snow had begun falling around 10 p.m., and no footprints were visible near the vehicle, suggesting the theft occurred earlier during normal evening hours, though this remains unconfirmed.
The plates' discovery stemmed from a separate event that night: a driver fled a petrol station in Santa Coloma without paying, prompting a police pursuit. The vehicle crashed near the current Justice Headquarters, causing material damage but no injuries. The driver, a local resident, was detained and suspected of impairment but tested negative. He was hospitalized for feeling unwell and later released on orders from the prosecutor's office.
Inspection of the crashed car revealed mismatched plates, traced back to the Sispony vehicle. Police now believe they know the perpetrator and are probing prior irregularities in the car's sale. Investigators suspect the driver swapped the plates to bypass issues in an unperfected transaction, pointing to potential fraud rather than a random theft or personal vendetta.
The owner, who filed his report Sunday morning to secure replacements, was told by officers to stay calm. He awaits further updates as the early-stage probe continues, easing some of his safety concerns. No additional details on the suspect or vehicle sales have been released.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: