An Ottawa man is facing dozens of charges after police found six cars stolen from local dealers. One investigator suggests that this may signal a new direction in car theft.
In a press release issued Thursday, Ottawa police said they launched an investigation in March after learning a man was buying and using fraudulent vehicle identification numbers (VINs).
The plates, which are usually located on the edge of the dashboard on the driver’s side, inside the door frame or sometimes inside the engine compartment, are stamped with the car’s unique 17-digit VIN, which can be used to trace its origin.
It is illegal to remove or change them.
Ottawa police told the CBC they found four Jeep Grand Cherokees and two Dodge Ram trucks while carrying out a couple of search warrants at the western end of the city on Wednesday. The vehicles have been stolen from “dealers in Ottawa and the area in recent months,” according to a press release.
Investigators also found “key programming equipment, keychains and fraudulent documents,” according to Ottawa police.
Two more cars have been sold, according to police
Const. Scott Herriot told the CBC that two more stolen vehicles had been “monitored” by police nearby.
“They have not been restored yet. The neighboring services that are helping us have actually seen them, monitored them, and we are making efforts to restore them.”
Harry said investigators believe the vehicles were sold online by the same suspect.
The 32-year-old defendant is charged with eight counts of motor vehicle theft, unauthorized use of a computer, possession of a car key, fraud not exceeding $ 5,000 and alteration, removal or deletion of a VIN.
The man also faces seven counts of trafficking in property acquired through crime and two counts of smuggling, entering and possessing burglary tools. He faces another charge of conspiracy to commit a felony.
The man was due to appear in court on Thursday.
Ottawa Police also thanked the Smiths Falls Police Department, the Gatineau Police, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) for their help.
“Different item”
As the CBC reported, the thieves have been targeting high-end Toyota and Lexus SUVs for years, often stealing them from the alleys while their owners are asleep.
Harry said these latest thefts could potentially signal a new trend, not only because the vehicles were stolen from dealers, but also because they included different makes and models.
“It’s a different element,” Herriot said. “The vehicle can be ‘awakened’ if you wish, by a different method, and does not actually need to be physically broken.”
Not so with other brands, Herriot said.
“What we saw with Toyota and Lexus is a different method, just because of the vehicle’s system.”
Hundreds of high-end Toyota and Lexus SUVs have also been stolen in recent years, often from driveways while their owners are asleep. The latest thefts are a “different element,” according to one investigator. (Stu Mills / CBC)
Another difference, according to Herriot, is that the suspect in the latest thefts is a local, while many of the thefts of Toyota and Lexus are related to suspects in the Montreal area.
Harry will not say whether police believe the Ottawa suspect worked alone or as part of a criminal gang.
According to police, many of these stolen Toyota and Lexus SUVs were probably sent to countries in Africa and the Middle East for resale.
There is no brand or model protected from theft
On Thursday, police advised the owners of these brands to be vigilant.
“All Lexus / Toyota SUV owners who notice new or new damage to the driver’s door handle or watch someone take pictures of the vehicle’s VIN on the dashboard must report it to Ottawa police.” , according to a press release issued Thursday.
“Owners of newer SUVs with a start button who notice a breakdown are also encouraged to report it.”
While these vehicles are usually stolen from lanes rather than dealers, Herriot said no brand or model is protected from theft, especially if they have a button ignition.
“If they have the technology available, then it’s entirely possible,” he said.
The new Jeep Grand Cherokees start at over $ 52,000, while the new Dodge Ram 1500 starts at around $ 48,000.
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