Two Quebec residents are facing charges after being connected to a string of Oakville vehicle thefts.
The Halton Police stopped a vehicle in the area of Trafalgar Road and Upper Middle Road in Oakville. The driver was found to be wanted for vehicle thefts from February. A search of the vehicle found break-in instruments and devices specifically used to steal high-end SUVs.
Both suspects were arrested and charged.
25-year old Omar Ani of St. Léonard, Québec was arrested and has been charged with:
- Possession of Break in Instruments
- Theft of Motor Vehicle
19-year old Evens Casimir of Laval, Québec was arrested and has been charged with:
- Possession of Break in Instruments
- Obstruct Peace officer
Ani was held for a bail hearing in Milton and Casimir was released on a Release Order.
The arrests following the Halton Police telling residents to ‘Lock it or Lose it’. Here are some tips:
- Park your vehicle within a locked/secure garage as the majority of the vehicles are stolen from residential driveways
- If a garage is not accessible, park another vehicle behind it in the driveway to act as a physical barrier to its removal
- Lock the data port using a simple device that can be purchased online and blocks access to the computer port where thieves gain access to reprogram the vehicle’s keys
- Invest in an aftermarket global positioning system tracker or have one installed by the dealer, as it may assist in recovery of the vehicle if it is stolen
- Ensure your unattended vehicle(s) are locked and secure
- Never leave spare keys in your vehicle
- Never leave spare keys outside of your residence
- When not in use, place vehicle keys inside a radio frequency shielding bag/pouch to block cell signals
- Equip your vehicle with an alarm
- Use other devices to deter thefts (e.g. steering wheel locking device)
- Consider purchasing a quality video surveillance system and ensure your cameras are properly placed and functioning for 24-hour use
Anyone with questions or information about these vehicle thefts is asked to contact Det. Omar Nadim at the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 ext. 2278.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
