More than 200 vehicles worth $11 million have been recovered in a joint investigation by Peel Regional Police, York Regional Police, Halton Regional Police and the OPP. Six York Region residents were among 42 arrested.
The six-month long investigation titled Project High 5 started after investigators noticed an increase in vehicle thefts in the Greater Toronto Area. Police said suspects would force open the doors of the vehicles and then use key programming devices to program a new key fob and drive off with the vehicle. They said the victims were often targeted at night while they were sleeping.
The stolen vehicles were then loaded into shipping containers and sent to the United States and West African and Middle Eastern countries.
However, police recovered 217 stolen vehicles and arrested members of what they called a prolific auto theft ring. In total, 24 people have been arrested and face a combined total of 321 charges after nine residential search warrants across Peel, Halton and York Regions.
"These arrests and seizures are an impressive demonstration of the value of collaboration between the Peel Regional Police, our policing partners, and our community. It has resulted in successfully dismantling one of the most prolific organized crime rings in the Greater Toronto Area. The results are unparalleled, said Nick Milinovich, Peel deputy chief of investigative and emergency services.
Insp. Mike Elliott with York Regional Police also commented on the investigation.
"The success of Project High 5 and our continued commitment to auto theft investigations proves that a coordinated effort by law enforcement and community stakeholders can have a major impact on criminal organizations. The auto cargo theft unit of York Regional Police was proud to have contributed to the success of Project High 5," he said.
The following residents of York Region were charged in the investigation:
- Ranvir Saggi, a 22 year-old man from Richmond Hill (12 charges)
- Akash Sandal, a 24-year-old man from Vaughan (18 charges)
- Sanyam Maini, a 32-year-old man from Vaughan (29 charges)
- Varun Verma, a 21-year-old man from Vaughan (11 charges)
- Ara-Rose Roeein, a 33-year-old woman from Richmond Hill (8 charges)
- Kelly McCarthy, a 33-year-old woman from Richmond Hill (14 charges)
