Recovered: Stolen Ferrari Worth £350,000 Found After 28 Years

In a remarkable turn of events, a red Ferrari F512M, valued at £350,000, that was stolen from former Formula One driver Gerhard Berger during the Italian San Marino Grand Prix in 1995 has been recovered by the Metropolitan Police.

PC Mike Pilbeam, who spearheaded the investigation, described the recovery as a significant breakthrough, noting that the stolen Ferrari had been missing for over 28 years before the authorities managed to track it down in just four days.

The high-profile theft occurred during the San Marino Grand Prix held at Imola in Italy in April 1995, where two of the Italian sports cars were reported stolen while their drivers were competing.

Following a report from the car manufacturer earlier this year, the Metropolitan Police launched a thorough investigation. The breakthrough came when officers received information that the stolen Ferrari had been purchased by a US buyer through a UK broker in late 2023.

The Organised Vehicle Crime Unit uncovered that the car had been shipped to Japan shortly after its theft and was later brought to the UK. Acting swiftly, the unit intervened to prevent the vehicle from being exported.

Utilizing extensive international cooperation, including collaboration with the National Crime Agency, Ferrari, and global car dealerships, investigators traced the car’s journey and uncovered vital clues about its background.

Despite the success in recovering one of the stolen Ferraris, the second car remains missing, and no arrests have been made yet. PC Mike Pilbeam emphasized the meticulous nature of their enquiries, which involved coordination with authorities worldwide and swift action to prevent the stolen vehicle from leaving the country.

The recovery of the stolen Ferrari stands as a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and partners across the globe in combatting organized vehicle crime.