- A group of thieves targeted seven of ABT’s tuned cars, stealing valuable parts.
- Daniel Abt confirmed the thieves cut power supplies and lighting to hide their actions.
- Authorities are investigating the theft, and ABT plans to improve security measures.
For decades, ABT has been building, tuning, and racing some of the wildest European cars on the market, earning itself a reputation that stretches well beyond Germany. But apparently, that fame has its downsides, like attracting a group of thieves who recently decided it would be a great idea to raid the parking area at ABT’s German headquarters, making off with roughly €300,000 (~$318,000) worth of parts from several cars.
According to Daniel Abt, seven cars were targeted late at night last Sunday evening. The thieves didn’t just swipe a couple of wheels and call it a day. No, they went full surgical mode, hacking up the cars, stealing their wheels, and even removing the expensive carbon ceramic brake discs and rotors. The tuning brand doesn’t believe this was the work of amateurs, noting that the power supplies and lighting around the parking area were cut, keeping their criminal activities hidden in the shadows.
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A photo shared by the company’s CCO on LinkedIn shows one of ABT’s blacked-out Audi RS6s sitting on bricks after its wheels and brakes were taken. While it’s unclear exactly which other cars were targeted, it’s safe to assume the thieves went for the most valuable options on the lot. After all, forged wheels are very valuable, as are carbon ceramic brakes, and there’s a good chance the thieves have already sold many of the parts or exported them overseas, meaning they’ll likely be very hard to track down.
According to the tuning house and race team, local authorities are investigating the theft. But, from the sounds of it, ABT’s security measures left something to be desired. Daniel Abt confirmed that the company would “definitely revise our security concept” in light of the thefts.
Unfortunately, wheel thefts happen all around the world. Anyone who owns a car with valuable wheels would be wise to invest in a set of lock nuts to try and dissuade would-be thieves from making off with them. Another good option is to invest in front and rear-facing dash cameras that are wired directly to a fuse or the battery and can record when the car is turned off, helping to identify any thieves.