Police charge eight suspects following investigation into $3M Greater Toronto Area auto theft ring

Halton Regional Police say they have disrupted a group believed to be responsible for the theft of at least 40 vehicles in Halton Region and the Greater Toronto Area worth over $3 million.

Halton Regional Police say they have disrupted a group believed to be responsible for the theft of at least 40 vehicles in Halton Region and the Greater Toronto Area worth over $3 million.

The vehicles were stolen from the GTA and were destined to be shipped overseas, police say.

The investigation started in May after a stolen Toyota Tundra from Hamilton was recovered in a residential area in Burlington.

“Through an extensive canvas following the recovery of this Tundra, a suspect vehicle was subsequently identified,” Det. Phil Vandenbeukel told reporters.

That suspect vehicle led police to a rented home in the GTA, which kicked off several months of surveillance and further investigation.

“Through surveillance and various investigative avenues, individuals were identified along with additional suspect vehicles,” Vandenbeukel said. “These individuals would frequently travel back and forth from Quebec to the GTA and often change locations of their short term rentals.”

While in Ontario, the group targeted newer model high-end vehicles – mainly Toyota Tundras and Lexus RX 350 SUVs that were parked overnight in private driveways, police said.