Foreign tourists visiting the south of France have been warned to be on the look-out for fake policemen. An organized gang of robbers, pretending to be gendarmes (military police), have targeted motorways in mostly in Southern France but also in Normandy.
They mostly work at night and flag down rented cars because these occupants are less familiar with how the gendarmes normally operate. They use uniforms, cars with flashing lights, and pull over the unsuspecting. They conduct searches of the target vehicle claiming to be looking for drugs or other illegal items. While conducting these searches, they steal valuables. On departing they often take the victim’s cell phone and car keys, so they can not notify the police.
The real authorities informed people that gendarmes would never search a car beside the road because of the danger this poses. If people have any doubts, they should not stop. I’m not sure how they would respond to a tourist not pulling over, but there you have it.
More on this story at The Local at this link.