More than 300 charges laid in investigation into auto theft ring, $11.1M worth of cars recovered

Stolen autos recovered as a part of Undertaking Excessive 5 are seen on this photograph offered by Peel Regional Police.

Two dozen persons are dealing with greater than 300 prices mixed in reference to an investigation into what police are calling a “prolific auto theft ring” within the Larger Toronto Space.

In line with Peel police, the investigation—dubbed “Undertaking Excessive 5”—spanned a number of jurisdictions over a six-month interval. It started after police documented a rise in motor autos being stolen from residents inside the Area of Peel and the Larger Toronto Space.

Police allege suspects compelled open a driver’s door, obtained entry to the automobile’s On Board Diagnostic Port, after which used that machine to program a brand new key fob.

“These weren't the results of relay thefts and had been captured by victims and neighbouring residences on residence safety,” police mentioned in a information launch issued Thursday.

Investigators say the automobile house owners lived in residential neighbourhoods and had been focused whereas they slept. The autos had been then loaded into transport containers to export to the US and a number of West African and Center Jap International locations, police added.

In line with police, investigators recognized autos that had been fraudulently registered in Ontario and bought to “unsuspecting automotive dealerships, on-line seller platforms and unassuming consumers.”

On Jan. 19, officers executed search warrants at 9 residential areas throughout the areas of Peel, Halton and York.

Because of this, police recovered 217 autos valued at about $11.1 million. In addition they seized a loaded .45 calibre hand gun with a prohibited prolonged journal, greater than $100,000 in Canadian forex, an unspecified quantity of medicine, car forgery paperwork and devices, and fraudulent authorities paperwork.

Twenty-four individuals had been taken into custody and charged in reference to the investigation, together with two individuals beneath the age of 18. Whereas nearly all of suspects are residents of the Larger Toronto Space, 5 are from Montreal and one other two are from Uxbridge and Whitby respectively.

In complete, the suspects face a mixed 321 prices.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and so they anticipate additional arrests.

“Undertaking Excessive 5” was a collaboration between Peel Regional Police, Halton Regional Police, York Regional Police and the Ontario Provincial Police. Officers additionally mentioned that members from the Canada Border Providers Company, Mississauga, Port of Montreal – SPVM Police, Equite Affiliation, Port of Halifax and the Halifax Police Service.