Two Dutch men aged 22 have been killed and a third is fighting for his life in hospital in Germany after a car crash in a stolen car, apparently following a burglary.

The men, all from Utrecht, are thought to have robbed a telephone shop in the German town of Krefeld shortly before the crash on Monday night. Dozens of brand new mobile phones were found in the car, along with a burglary kit, news agency ANP says.

According to media reports, the three drove off in a stolen Audi but the driver lost control at high speed and the car smashed into a tree. One man was killed instantly, one died in hospital and the third remains in intensive care.

Police were able to identify the men after their families reported them missing, the Telegraaf says.

German police think the three were part of a gang which has carried out a number of burglaries and ATM attacks in Germany, using fast Audis or BMWs to drive back to the Netherlands.