Germany: Driver abandons car loaded with four tons of stolen water meters

A driver abandoned a vehicle loaded with stolen goods on the A3 motorway near Frauenau on October 5, 2026. The car, which became unstable due to a tire burst, skidded and caused damage to the asphalt after a rim detached.

Investigators discovered the vehicle was carrying approximately four tons of used copper water meters. Due to this extreme weight, recovery teams were unable to lift the car with a standard crane and had to use a winch. Police have determined that the water meters were previously stolen from Ingolstadt. The driver fled into a nearby forest and remains at large.