BMW workers take a leaf out of Johnny Cash's book to steal car parts 'one piece at a time'



A gang of thieves working at a BMW plant in Germany took a leaf out of country singer Johnny Cash’s book - and decided to steal the factory ‘one piece at a time.’



Over several years they stole over three million pounds worth of parts.

Wheel arches, gear stick knobs, brake systems, steering columns, blank keys and car seats were among the valuable booty.



Money spinner: Over several years they a gang operating out of the BMW plant in Munich stole over three million pounds worth of parts for sale on the black market

'I got it one piece at a time and it didn’t cost me a dime,' went the Cash song about a disillusioned Detroit autoworker who custom-made his own car from the various parts he stole.

But the thieves in Munich were only in it for the money.

Prosecutors said the gang flogged the stolen parts on Internet auctions. Investigator Robert Weber said two members of the gang had worked for the company for over a decade, a third was an outside contractor.

According to prosecutors, seats were the big money spinners. The gang would make up fake production orders for another part of the factory and when the seats were made, they would order quality control checks.

Johnny Cash - 'One piece at a time' chorus

I'd get it one piece at a time

And it wouldn't cost me a dime

You'll know it's me when I come through your town

I'm gonna ride around in style

I'm gonna drive everybody wild

'Cause I'll have the only one there is a round.



This was easily done as one 44-year-old gang member worked in the quality control department of the luxury car maker.

They told bosses the seats were faulty and junked, when in reality they were smuggled out of the plant and sold. The gang had a network of foreign bank accounts to launder their money.

Police said a number of small auto repair workshops and private customers were in on the deal.

A number of car seats, spare parts and BMW car badges were discovered during a series of raids in and around Munich at the end of last week.

BMW said most of its 31,000 workers in and around Munich were 'honest' but that there were always bad apples to be found in any barrel.

Piece by piece: Unlike Johnny Cash's hero from his song 'One piece at a time', the thieves from Munich made a huge profit from their activities. Car seats were amongst the most lucrative pieces to sell on





