Pollinkhove (Brussels Morning Newspaper) 14 January 2026 – Police in the Spoorkin zone recorded the fifth luxury car theft in Pollinkhove over the past two months. Thieves entered homes, located vehicle keys quickly, and drove off with the cars. Authorities described the burglars as thoroughly prepared.
- Details of the Latest Theft Incident
- Pattern Across the Five Incidents
- Police Response and Investigative Measures
- Impact on Local Residents and Security Upgrades
- Broader Context of Luxury Car Thefts in West Flanders
- Methods Employed by the Thieves
- Preventive Advice from Authorities and Experts
- Regional Police Coordination Efforts
- Community Resilience and Long-Term Outlook
The latest incident occurred last night in this quiet village in West Flanders, Belgium. Spoorkin police confirmed the pattern matches previous cases since mid-November 2025. Residents awoke to find their high-value vehicles missing after forced entry through ground-floor windows or unsecured rear doors.
Details of the Latest Theft Incident
Officers responded to a report at approximately 0630 hours local time. The owner discovered the burglary upon returning from night shift work. Thieves targeted a garage-attached home, ransacking drawers and countertops for approximately five minutes before fleeing in a late-model Audi Q8 valued at €120,000.
Entry occurred via a kitchen window left slightly ajar. Keys hung on a hallway hook, undisturbed until taken. No other valuables such as jewellery or cash appeared disturbed, indicating a focused search. Security camera footage from neighbouring properties showed two masked individuals departing in the stolen vehicle towards the N8 highway.
Spoorkin Police spokesperson Inspector Liesbeth Pauwels stated in a press release: “Thieves have prepared thoroughly.” Similar methods characterised all five thefts, with vehicles including a Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5, Mercedes GLE, and Range Rover taken previously.
Pattern Across the Five Incidents
The series began on 12 November 2025 with the first Porsche theft from a rural property on Pollinkhove’s Dorpstraat. Subsequent cases followed on 28 November, 15 December, 27 December, and now 13 January. Each involved residential break-ins lasting under 10 minutes, targeting families with luxury SUVs parked visibly in driveways.
Thieves consistently bypassed alarms by entering through least-secured points. Key fobs, often left near entrances for convenience, facilitated immediate escapes. Recovered vehicles later appeared in eastern Europe, stripped for parts, according to Interpol notices issued last month.
Pollinkhove, population 4,200, sits midway between Diksmuide and Veurne. Its semi-rural setting with spacious homes attracts affluent commuters working in Ostend or Bruges. Local real estate records show 15 luxury vehicles registered in the 9km² area.
Police Response and Investigative Measures
Spoorkin zone, covering 150km² and 40,000 residents, elevated the cases to priority status. A dedicated task force now patrols rural roads nightly using unmarked cars. Canine units swept the latest scene, recovering a discarded glove for DNA analysis.
Authorities issued warnings via village newsletters and social media. “Secure keys in safes, install smart locks, and fit immobilisers,” advised Inspector Pauwels. Police recommended secondary key hiding spots and motion-sensor floodlights. Five additional officers reassigned from traffic duties bolster patrols.
Collaboration with federal police intensified. Vehicle tracking systems activated on three prior thefts led to recoveries in Poland and Lithuania. Europol analysts linked the modus operandi to a Romanian-based network active in Flanders since 2024.
Impact on Local Residents and Security Upgrades
Homeowners formed a WhatsApp group sharing footage and sightings. Insurance claims totalled €450,000 across incidents, with premiums rising 20% for affected households. Local hardware stores reported 300% sales increases in key safes and window locks since December.
Victim testimonies appeared in Het Laatste Nieuws. “They knew exactly where to look,” said one resident whose BMW vanished overnight. Another recounted spotting unfamiliar vans circling days prior. Community meetings at Pollinkhove church hall drew 250 attendees last week.
Neighbourhood watch initiatives expanded, with volunteers monitoring streets from 2200 to 0600 hours. Private security firms quoted €500 monthly for patrols, unaffordable for most.
Broader Context of Luxury Car Thefts in West Flanders
West Flanders recorded 1,200 vehicle thefts in 2025, up 35% from 2024. Luxury models comprised 18%, concentrated in coastal zones. Spoorkin zone averaged three monthly prior to this spree; Pollinkhove now accounts for 40% of its caseload.
National trends mirror local surges. Federal Police data showed 8,500 luxury car thefts nationwide in 2025, many tied to home burglaries. Ports at Zeebrugge and Ostend facilitated exports, with 2,100 vehicles seized en route to Africa and Eastern Europe.
Insurance Federation of Belgium reported €280 million in payouts, prompting stricter policy terms. Relay attacks, jamming key signals, featured in 25% of cases, though Pollinkhove thieves relied on physical key grabs.
Methods Employed by the Thieves
Burglars used slim jimmies to pry window frames without shattering glass. Gloves prevented fingerprints; shoe covers minimised traces. Scouting occurred mid-afternoon, targeting homes with visible luxury cars and absent owners.
Digital forensics revealed encrypted Telegram channels coordinating hits. Stolen vehicles equipped with GPS blockers evaded initial tracking. Dismantling occurred within 48 hours, per recovered chassis numbers.
Preventive Advice from Authorities and Experts
Belgian Federal Police’s car theft unit published guidelines online. Recommendations included faraday pouches for keys, steering wheel locks, and garage bolting. Apps like “Find My Car” gained 50,000 downloads post-incidents.
Criminology professor Marc Cools of Ghent University noted in De Standaard: “Professional rings exploit rural isolation.” He advocated geofencing alerts for high-risk zones.
Regional Police Coordination Efforts
Spoorkin liaises with adjacent Nieuwpoort and Diksmuide zones, sharing suspect sketches. Drone surveillance covers 20km of backroads. Checkpoints on E40 and N8 inspect rentals for tools like glass cutters.
International warrants issued for three suspects aged 25-35, Romanian nationals. Two arrests in December yielded confessions tying them to three thefts, though not Pollinkhove’s.
Community Resilience and Long-Term Outlook
Residents installed 150 new cameras since November. The village council allocated €25,000 for lighting upgrades along theft-prone lanes. Insurance incentives offer 15% discounts for verified security upgrades.
Spoorkin Chief Commissioner Tom Vandecasteele addressed council: “We anticipate apprehensions within weeks.” Patrols continue indefinitely, with the public tips hotline receiving 40 calls daily.
Incidents underscore vulnerabilities in affluent rural pockets. As investigations progress, Pollinkhove residents balance vigilance with daily routines amid restored winter calm.
