London’s Metropolitan Police have made a significant announcement, revealing the recovery of a Ferrari F512M sports car that was stolen from former Formula One driver Gerhard Berger in Italy during the San Marino Grand Prix a staggering 28 years ago.
This particular car, one of two Ferraris pilfered from two F1 drivers during the race event at Imola in April 1995, had been reported missing but had remained elusive until now.
The recovery effort was sparked by a report received from Ferrari in January of the current year. Ferrari had conducted checks on a vehicle being sold to a buyer in the US via a UK broker in 2023, discovering it was, in fact, a stolen vehicle.
The Organised Vehicle Crime Unit, upon receiving this report, embarked on a comprehensive investigation. Their efforts led them across the globe, tracing the car’s journey from its theft to its eventual reappearance in the UK in late 2023.
PC Mike Pilbeam, who spearheaded the investigation, remarked, “The stolen Ferrari – valued at close to £350,000 – had been missing for over 28 years before we managed to track it down in just four days. Our inquiries were meticulous and involved liaising with authorities worldwide.”
He continued, “We worked swiftly with partners such as the National Crime Agency, Ferrari, and international car dealerships. This collaborative effort was pivotal in uncovering the vehicle’s history and preventing its departure from the country.”
