Police lay multiple charges in vehicle theft investigation

Waterloo regional police have laid 92 charges and arrested eight people in a six-month long investigation into organized crime involving vehicle thefts across the region and Guelph.

Investigators looked into thefts and attempted thefts of high-end SUVS and pickup trucks between June 1 and Nov. 21,  deputy Jen Davis said during a media briefing Friday morning.

"In particular, suspects targeted vehicles such as Toyota Highlanders, Lexus RX 350, Chevrolet Suburbans, Tahoes, GMC Yukons and Dodge Rams," she said.

"It's believed these vehicles were stolen with the intention with shipping overseas for criminal resale."

Police said 45 vehicles, worth approximately $1.3-million, were recovered through the investigation. Davis said suspects spent time canvasing neighbourhoods at night and used re-programming technology to steal the vehicles.

Reprogramming thefts are when a suspect enters a vehicle and uses a device to access a vehicle's diagnostics and reprogram a blank key fob to start the vehicle. Davis said police have noticed a higher number of those kinds of thefts in areas along the 401. 

"As soon as the vehicles are obtained, they're getting on the 401 and they are driving those vehicles to Toronto or Montreal, or wherever they're being loaded up," she said. 

Several search warrants were carried out at several homes across Cambridge, Guelph, Paris, Brampton and Mississauga, Davis said.

Eight people between the ages of 17 and 26 were arrested and charged with: 

Davis said the service recently received $687,000 from the province's Preventing Auto Thefts Grant Program to help officers prevent and investigate vehicle thefts.

"Over the past year, the Waterloo Regional Police Service has seen increase in vehicle thefts tied to organize crime," Davis said, adding the issue is not unique to the region.

She said the service will continue to work with other police services and agencies across the province to collaborate and create investigative strategies.

Kerr said nothing is 100 per cent effective, but there are some ways to help mitigate the chances of your vehicle being stolen, like blocking it in with another vehicle or putting the vehicle in the garage, if possible. 

Kerr said using market trackers like an Air Tag can also help officers locate and recover the vehicle.