Durham police say that a months-long probe into an “organized crime auto theft network” has led to the arrest of 11 Quebec residents, one of whom is already wanted for breaching her release conditions.
Police say that the group is believed to be responsible for the theft of 38 vehicles valued at more than $2.5 million.
So far police say that they have been able to recover 20 of the stolen vehicles.
Durham Regional Police Chief Peter Moreira said that the suspects are facing more than 160 combined charges in connection with the investigation. He said that 58 of those charges relate to alleged violations of release orders or other conditions that all but three of the suspects were subject to.
An additional four suspects remain outstanding.
“This issue of recidivism is deeply troubling,” Moreira told reporters at a news conference announcing the arrests. “I can’t remember the last person charged with this (auto theft) that wasn’t already charged with this a number of times before so that is the frustration.”
Moreira said that the suspects were arrested on March 13 following the execution of a number of search warrants in the Toronto area.
He said that one of the suspects - 31-year-old Assia Ouadria - was later released and was ordered to remain with a surety in the Montreal area.
However, four days later Montreal police conducted a compliance check at that home and learned Ouadria wasn’t there, Moreira said.
Sometime later a Durham Regional Police officer spotted her at an Oshawa plaza and attempted to place her under arrest.
That’s when she allegedly got into white Mercedes driven by another suspect. That driver threw the vehicle into reverse and dragged the officer several feet before slamming into a parked car and fleeing the scene in an incident that was captured on video.
“This video shows the utter disdain these individuals have for law enforcement and the complete disregard for the safety of our community,” Moreira said. “Fortunately the officer involved did not sustain any serious injuries but the outcome here could have been much, much worse.”
Investigation began in January
Moreira said that the investigation into the auto theft ring began in January in response to reports of numerous overnight vehicle thefts within Durham Region.
He said that the investigation revealed that the suspects were in Ontario for the sole purpose of stealing vehicles and were operating the “organized” theft ring from a few addresses in Toronto.
In most of the thefts, Moreira said that suspects were forcing entry into parked vehicles and then using computerized devices to reprogram a key that they would then use to start the ignition and drive away.
The whole process, he said, takes place in “minutes.”
“This is organized crime. Borders mean nothing to them. This is where there are high value targets for them to steal and they are going to do it,” Moreira said.
For a full list of the suspects and the charges they are facing follow this link.
