French Police Capture Two Trucks Loaded with Stolen €600,000 Champagne After Wild Chase
In the French region of Seine-et-Marne, police successfully intercepted two trucks carrying stolen Moët & Chandon champagne worth nearly €600,000 after a frenzied pursuit over the weekend, as reported by Le Parisien.
The merchandise was stolen on the night from Friday to Saturday in Reims. The following morning, around 9 a.m., police learned about the search for a trailer loaded with champagne crates. Equipped with a GPS beacon, unnoticed by the thieves, the vehicle was spotted on a national highway.
Approaching the convoy, police realized there were, in fact, two large trucks, each towing a trailer loaded with the looted goods. Law enforcement decided to intercept the trucks, but the thieves were not ready to give up.
As one of the large trucks approached the first police car, the driver of the second truck swerved to collide with it, but in vain. Subsequently, the driver gradually moved onto the emergency lane before jumping out of the moving vehicle. Then, a BMW, in which the thief was supposed to escape and later disappear, appeared right in front of the perpetrator.
Meanwhile, the police vehicle raced to catch up with the truck, which continued to move without a driver at "a speed of about 15 km/h."
"It was extremely necessary to secure the sector to avoid an accident," a source revealed.
In the last moment, the driver of the second large truck managed to escape from the police, exiting the highway. Frightened, the thieves finally abandoned the vehicle with the stolen goods in a car park nearby. The police are still searching for them.
As reported earlier by The Gaze, climate change poses a threat to the taste of champagne. Vineyards scorched by heat have completely altered the flavours of the drink. Climate change, in general, calls into question the future of the beloved sparkling beverage, and champagne producers are preparing for survival amid potential changes in its taste.
According to the S&P Global Sustainable report, by 2050, the physical risk caused by drought in the Champagne region is expected to triple, creating significant challenges for grape growers.
According to tasters, the taste of some champagnes already significantly differs from the champagne people consumed many years ago.