Bugatti Rimac chief's Chiron stolen in Croatia with key inside; thief caught in Austria
A Bugatti Chiron hypercar belonging to Bugatti Rimac head Mate Rimac was stolen from company premises in Croatia after its key was left inside. Austrian police intercepted the thief after a chase across several countries.
Mate Rimac, head of Bugatti Rimac, has had his Bugatti Chiron hypercar stolen from company premises in Croatia. The key had been left inside the car, as Rimac was accustomed to doing, believing nobody would dare steal such a valuable vehicle. This time that assumption proved wrong, and the company now plans to handle car keys more carefully.
How the theft unfolded
Employees noticed the Chiron driving out of the yard and suspected a theft. It took some time to establish whether a colleague had taken the car. Once the worst was confirmed, Rimac contacted the police immediately, but also decided to chase the thief himself in his own Porsche 911.
A chase across several countries
The thief had a lead of roughly an hour. The company was helped by the car's real-time telemetry system, which made it possible to track its location, speed and fuel level. Rimac and his colleagues regularly passed this data to the police.
The chase went through several countries until the Chiron reached Austria. There the thief ran out of fuel, but after refuelling he drove on without paying. Eventually Austrian police intercepted the thief and detained the stolen hypercar.
Outcome
The car, which costs roughly 2.5–3.5 million euros in Europe, suffered only minor damage to its front bumper. After the incident, Rimac said the company would be much more careful about how car keys are stored.
