The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has charged five people and issued an arrest warrant for a sixth suspect following an investigation into a series of vehicle thefts linked to Halton and Waterloo.
The investigation was dubbed Project Steel. It began in mid-March after a vehicle was stolen from the driveway of a Milton home. Police say the victim’s wallet had been left inside the vehicle and bank cards were later used at a fast-food restaurant within the GTA.
As investigators followed leads, they identified multiple suspects and tracked them to a residence in Brampton. On April 1st, members of the HRPS 1 District Auto Team executed search warrants at the home and an associated vehicle.
Four suspects were arrested at the time and officers seized a number of items allegedly connected to vehicle thefts, including vehicle reprogramming devices, magnetic tracking devices, blank key fobs, cellular phones, break-and-enter tools, fraudulent identification and clothing allegedly worn during the thefts.
Seized property obtained by the HRPS (image courtesy of the HRPS)
The investigation ultimately linked the group to 13 vehicle thefts and attempted thefts in Halton, along with one additional theft in Waterloo, most of which occurred in March.
As a result of the investigation five accused have been charged with the following:
29-year-old Aderyen Hadjarab of Montreal, Quebec has been charged with the following 45 offences:
- Theft of motor vehicle (14 counts)
- Failure to comply with probation (28 counts)
- Unauthorized use of a credit card
- Possession of break-in tools
- Possession of electronic device for the purpose of committing motor vehicle theft
Aderyen Hadjarab inside storage container with stolen vehicle (image provided by HRPS)
22-year-old Zineddine Naas Arabas of Montreal, Quebec has been charged with the following six offences:
- Possession of electronic device for the purpose of committing motor vehicle theft
- Possession of break-in tools
- Failure to comply with undertaking
- Failure to comply with probation
- Identity fraud
- Possess counterfeit mark
33-year-old Ahmad Fares of Laval, Quebec has been charged with the following three offences:
- Uttering a forged document
- Possession of electronic device or the purpose of committing motor vehicle theft
- Possession of break-in tools
20-year-old Rayan Cherchar of Mississauga has been charged with the following seven offences:
- Theft of motor vehicle (five counts)
- Possession of electronic device for the purpose of committing motor vehicle theft
- Possession of break in tools
On June 2nd, a fifth suspect, 23-year-old Mecipssa Ikkene of L’Assomption, Quebec was located and charged with the following 13 offences:
- Theft of motor vehicle (four counts)
- Failure to comply with probation (eight counts)
- Unauthorized use of a credit card
All accused were held in custody pending their respective bail hearings in Milton.
Hadjarab, Naas Arabas, and Ikkene were all on prior forms of release at the time of their arrests.
A warrant has been issued for 20-year-old Hamza Diazali of Laval, Quebec for the following 25 offences:
- Theft of motor vehicle (12 counts)
- Fail to comply with probation (12 counts)
- Unauthorized use of a credit card
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2416.
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 online.
