A Ferrari stolen from Formula 1 legend nearly three decades ago has been recovered by British police. The red Ferrari F512M, valued at approximately $443,500, was taken from the racing icon during the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, in April 1995. The theft occurred as the 10-time Grand Prix winner witnessed the car being driven away but was unable to apprehend the thief.
The car's disappearance remained a mystery until January of this year when it was located in the UK. Ferrari alerted authorities after discovering that the vehicle, which had been purchased by a US buyer through a UK broker, was reported stolen. The Organised Vehicle Crime Unit meticulously investigated the car's history, tracing its origins back 28 years to the theft from Berger.
The investigation revealed that the stolen Ferrari had been transported to Japan shortly after the theft before eventually making its way to the UK in 2023. Despite the recovery of Berger's car, no arrests have been made in connection with the theft, and the investigation is ongoing. Notably, another F1 driver's car, a silver-grey Ferrari 355 belonging to Jean Alesi, was also stolen during the same weekend but remains unrecovered.
This recovery is significant in light of the evolving tactics employed by criminals to steal luxury vehicles. Recent reports have highlighted the use of Apple AirTags to track high-end cars from public locations to their owners' residences. Additionally, thieves have attempted to exploit electronic devices to intercept signals from keys inside homes and steal vehicles from driveways.
Efforts to combat vehicle theft have involved collaboration between law enforcement agencies, international car dealerships, and luxury car manufacturers like Ferrari. The successful recovery of Berger's stolen Ferrari underscores the importance of such partnerships in combating sophisticated auto theft schemes.
