When authorities arrested a 42-year-old in Getaria, Spain for the theft of a heavy generator off a construction site, they didn’t expect to find a stash of vehicles stolen from different countries across Europe.
Police officers found the generator hidden under a tarp in a farmstead but further investigation led them to the discovery of a collection of 26 performance models that apparently wasn’t supposed to be there. And what a collection of vehicles that was.
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The vehicles in question were parked inside a barn and they are an eclectic mix of iconic homologation specials and French hot hatches, including several Mitsubishi Evos, Subaru STIs, Ford’s Escort RS Cosworth and Sierra RS Cosworth, Lancia Delta Integrale, one very rare Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 EVO II, BMW’s E30 M3 and E36 M3, a mid-engine Renault R5 Turbo, Peugeot 205 GTI and more.
That’s one hell of a collection right there, indicating that the thief (or thieves) had a rather excellent taste in cars and at least tried to imitate Nicolas Cage in Gone In 60 Seconds.
According to Ertzaintza, the police force in the Basque county, the cars were going to be offered for sale, with some of them carrying falsified VIN numbers. The unnamed man who was arrested was also found to be in possession of two firearms, ammunition and 10,000 euros in cash among others.
Eventually, authorities charged the 42-year-old man for the theft of the generator, as well as weapon possession and for altering the cars’ VIN numbers.
As for the vehicles, they appear to be in great shape, which is great news for their original owners who we hope they will soon be reunited with.
Images courtesy of Ertzaintza