More than 300 charges laid in investigation into auto theft ring, $11.1M worth of cars recovered
Two dozen people are facing more than 300 charges combined in connection with an investigation into what police are calling a “prolific auto theft ring” in the Greater Toronto Area.
According to Peel police, the investigation—dubbed “Project High 5”—spanned multiple jurisdictions over a six-month period. It began after police documented an increase in motor vehicles being stolen from residents within the Region of Peel and the Greater Toronto Area.
Police allege suspects forced open a driver’s door, obtained access to the vehicle’s On Board Diagnostic Port, and then used that device to program a new key fob.
“These were not the result of relay thefts and were captured by victims and neighbouring residences on home security,” police said in a news release issued Thursday.
Investigators say the car owners lived in residential neighbourhoods and were targeted while they slept. The vehicles were then loaded into shipping containers to export to the United States and multiple West African and Middle Eastern Countries, police added.
According to police, investigators identified vehicles that had been fraudulently registered in Ontario and sold to “unsuspecting automotive dealerships, online dealer platforms and unassuming buyers.”
On Jan. 19, officers executed search warrants at nine residential areas across the regions of Peel, Halton and York.
As a result, police recovered 217 vehicles valued at about $11.1 million. They also seized a loaded .45 calibre hand gun with a prohibited extended magazine, more than $100,000 in Canadian currency, an unspecified amount of drugs, automobile forgery documents and instruments, and fraudulent government documents.
Twenty-four people were taken into custody and charged in connection with the investigation, including two people under the age of 18. While the majority of suspects are residents of the Greater Toronto Area, five are from Montreal and another two are from Uxbridge and Whitby respectively.
In total, the suspects face a combined 321 charges.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and they anticipate further arrests.
“Project High 5” was a collaboration between Peel Regional Police, Halton Regional Police, York Regional Police and the Ontario Provincial Police. Officials also said that members from the Canada Border Services Agency, Mississauga, Port of Montreal – SPVM Police, Equite Association, Port of Halifax and the Halifax Police Service.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.