Photo: Halton Police
Two Quebec men have been arrested following a traffic stop in Oakville.
On Tuesday, February 25th, at roughly 10:30 a.m., a Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) officer conducted a traffic stop on an Audi sedan in the area of Neyagawa Boulevard and Gardenbrook Avenue in Oakville. During the stop, the alert officer noted suspicious items such as balaclavas, gloves, and tools. As a result, following the traffic stop, additional surveillance on the vehicle was conducted by the HRPS.
Police observed the suspects drive the Audi sedan into Mississauga and eventually to a hotel where the two occupants picked up a Toyota Tundra that had been previously reported stolen out of Toronto. The Tundra was driven to a new location by one of the men, while the second followed in the Audi.
At the second location, HRPS officers arrested both men.
21-year-old Luca Lacroix of Saint-Hubert, Quebec has been charged with Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000 and Possession of Break and Enter Instruments.
Lacroix is also wanted by police in Quebec for breaching conditions related to his release.
22-year-old Teddy Sanon of Montreal, Quebec has also been charged with Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000 and Possession of Break and Enter Instruments.
Both accused were held in custody by the HRPS pending a bail hearing. The HRPS continues to investigate this occurrence and additional charges may be pending.
“As I continue to watch our officers make many arrests of individuals with stolen vehicles, often from the province of Quebec, and tied to organized crime and exports at the port of Montreal, it astonishes me that this continues to be an issue at the rate that it does,” says Halton Regional Police Service Chief, Stephen Tanner. “Far too many of our citizens have suffered from auto theft, home invasions and violence, all so these individuals and organized crime groups could profit. Yet again, in this instance, I am forced to highlight the fact that one of the individuals arrested has been charged in the past for stolen vehicle offenses and is also wanted in the province of Quebec. Obviously, the profits of this crime outweigh any deterrence from our justice system. I continue to hope that the federal government will look at stricter laws around auto theft, and the other offences which put our frontline officers and citizens in harm’s way. Thankfully, the province, the Ontario Provincial Police and many municipal police services have worked together to target this crime that continues to be an epidemic.”
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.
