In Brief
A couple on vacation in Marrakech discovered, thanks to their GPS tracker, that their BMW X5, entrusted to a Parkos Zaventem valet, was moving abnormally around Belgium. Despite initial denials, the parking company eventually acknowledged the theft, also confirmed by the police. A Porsche was stolen the same day from the same site, prompting questions about the true security of private parking facilities near Brussels Airport and the criteria Parkos uses to vet its partners.
They jet off for Marrakech, confident they’ve secured everything before stepping through the boarding gate… and learn, from their smartphone, that their BMW X5 is roaming around Belgium. This couple from Deerlijk, in West Flanders, had entrusted their SUV to a valet parking service booked through Parkos Zaventem, claimed to store it in a secure lot near Brussels Airport. Within hours, the car had logged multiple movements, ending up reported in Tournai with the trunk open, just near the French border.
The scenario reads like a vacationer’s worst automotive nightmare. The parking company initially insisted that the vehicle remained on site, keys in hand, before finally admitting the theft after persistent questioning. At the same time, a Porsche vanished from the same lot. This incident, brought to light by Het Laatste Nieuws and confirmed by the Zaventem police, raises questions about the real security of private parkings around the airport and how platforms like Parkos select their partners.
Parkos Zaventem: a valet parking service pitched as secure around Brussels Airport
Before Marrakeck, the Deerlijk couple chose to book a parking space through Parkos, a site that compares and reserves private parkings near airports, including Brussels Airport. The chosen option: a valet service. On paper, the concept is simple: an employee comes to pick up the vehicle at the terminal at Zaventem, hauls it to a depot described as secure, and returns it on the day of the trip.
Parkos presents itself as an intermediary platform that connects motorists to partner parkings located near airports, with varying levels of service and price. In the Zaventem case, those parking facilities sit in nearby municipalities such as Machelen. The site highlights budget-friendly lots, shuttle services to the terminal, and valet options, with facilities advertised as fenced and monitored. Last year, the company had already made headlines when travelers found themselves blocked after Parkos had accepted more reservations than the parking could accommodate.
A BMW X5 Traverses Belgium, a Porsche Stolen on the Same Day
From the very first night in Morocco, the owner checked the tracker embedded in his SUV. On the app, the car didn’t stay put in a single depot; it was located in three different places within a few hours—first in Machelen, then in Brussels, and then in Anderlecht. A trajectory that bears no resemblance to the usual route between the airport and a fixed parking, and it immediately set the couple on edge while they were overseas.
The following morning, around 6 a.m., the beacon showed the car in Tournai, right near the French border, with the trunk open. The owner contacted the parking company several times. Initially, they insisted the BMW was still on site and that the keys were safe. It wasn’t until after repeated, persistent calls that the firm conceded the theft, and it turned up that the keys had also vanished. The Zaventem police confirmed the incident and noted that a Porsche had been stolen the same day from the same parking facility, this time with the tracker removed. The two cars were logged and an investigation is ongoing. The BMW has not yet been recovered, and the couple remains unsure whether outside individuals or the company itself could be involved, with no specifics provided.
Key Takeaways
- A Flemish couple entrusted their BMW X5 to a Parkos Zaventem valet and discovered the theft via GPS tracking.
- The stolen car was tracked to multiple locations across Belgium before being found in Tournai with the trunk open.
- The parking company initially denied the theft before admitting the vehicle and keys were missing.
- A Porsche was also stolen on the same day from the same parking facility.
- The case raises concerns about the security of private parkings near Brussels Airport.
- Parkos Zaventem offers valet services, but their reliability and partner vetting are called into question.
FAQ
How was the BMW X5 stolen?
After being handed over to a Parkos Zaventem valet service, the car was moved without the owner’s consent and its theft was confirmed by the company after several calls.
How were the owners alerted to the theft?
They watched the abnormal trajectory of the car thanks to the GPS tracker embedded in their BMW X5.
What does Parkos Zaventem offer in terms of parking?
Parkos Zaventem provides a valet service to park vehicles in private lots described as secure near Brussels Airport.
Were other cars stolen at the same parking?
Yes, a Porsche was also stolen the same day from the same parking, according to the Zaventem police.
What doubts does this case raise?
The case rekindles questions about the real security of private parkings around Brussels Airport and Parkos’ process for vetting partners.
