Auto theft, stock photo
Two Oakville residents have been arrested by the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) following a “re-vinning” investigation.
On Wednesday, August 23rd, a number of search warrants were executed in Oakville in relation to an auto theft investigation. As a result of the warrants, a 2021 re-vinned Ford Explorer was recovered. This was the fourth stolen vehicle recovered during the four-month long investigation, which totaled up to $250,000.
The investigation determined the accused was registering stolen vehicles using fictitious or cloned VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers) with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO).
Two arrests were made on Wednesday.
A 42-year-old Oakville man was arrested and charged with the following:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000 (five counts)
- Tampering with Vehicle Identification Number (two counts)
- Possession of a Counterfeit Mark (two counts)
- Possession of a Forged Document (three counts)
- Possession of Automobile Master Key (two counts)
- Fraud over $5000
A 39-year-old Oakville woman was also arrested and charged with:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000
Both accused were released from custody pending a court appearance.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2216.
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.
What is VIN Cloning?
VIN cloning takes place when a suspect copies the identity of a car and attaches it to another vehicle. The “cloned” VIN is often attached to a stolen vehicle. In these cases, the VIN installed by the manufacturer is removed and replaced with the “cloned” VIN from a second vehicle. The cloned or second VIN is a valid and genuine number from a vehicle that is of a similar make and model to the stolen vehicle.
The HRPS is applying significant resources to investigate auto theft occurrences; however, crime prevention is a shared responsibility. Please call 911 if you witness a crime in progress or if you see suspicious persons/vehicles in your neighbourhood.
There are some measures that residents can take to decrease the chance of the vehicle being stolen:
- Park your vehicle in a locked garage
- Block the exit of a potential target vehicle with a second vehicle parked behind it
- Install an on-board diagnostic blocker/protector
- Install a steering wheel lock device
- Install an aftermarket GPS tracking device
- Install home security cameras on the exterior of the residence
