Croatian Job Seeker Steals $3M Bugatti Chiron, CEO Refuses to Sue

A visit to the Rimac Automobili headquarters near Zagreb by a Croatian man seeking employment turned into an extraordinary incident after he discovered a Bugatti Chiron with its keys inside. Instead of submitting a job application, the man drove off in the luxury vehicle, initiating a multi-country pursuit that concluded with police recovering the car.

Theft at Headquarters

According to the company’s chief executive officer, the suspect, who is in his thirties, arrived at the facility looking for work. He encountered the parked Bugatti Chiron with the ignition key left inside and decided to take control of the vehicle rather than proceed with his hiring inquiry. Staff members did not immediately notice the disappearance because the company president habitually leaves keys in vehicles, including the Bugatti Chiron and the Rimac Nevera. A witness eventually alerted employees to seeing an unidentified person driving away, triggering verification processes that confirmed the theft.

Cross-Border Pursuit

The company president promptly notified law enforcement and utilized the car’s integrated tracking data to locate it, which indicated movement toward Slovenia. He then pursued the thief himself in his Porsche 911, despite the suspect having gained approximately one hour of lead time. As the stolen vehicle crossed into Austrian territory, the company team continued providing real-time location updates to authorities. Police successfully intercepted the driver and recovered the automobile, valued at over three million euros after taxes and fees.

CEO Chooses Restitution Over Litigation

At an Austrian police station, the chief executive met with the detained man, who stated he had intended to drive to Germany following his sudden decision to take the car. Although the vehicle sustained some damage, the CEO declared he would not file a personal complaint against the individual, reasoning that the harm was repairable and no injuries occurred. The executive noted that the encounter gave him the impression the man faced difficult personal circumstances, eliciting sympathy, yet he emphasized this sentiment does not close the case. Legal proceedings will continue through competent authorities in Croatia and Austria due to the high value of the asset.

Security Habits Reconsidered

The chief executive acknowledged that his routine of leaving keys inside cars contributed to the breach. He attributed this practice to years of feeling secure within Croatia but admitted learning a lasting lesson from the event. He pledged to discontinue the habit in the future.