FROM: Corporate Communications
DATE: November 27, 2024
ONGOING INVESTIGATION AND SEARCH WARRANT RESULT IN TWO ARRESTS AND RECOVERY OF STOLEN VEHICLE
(INNISFIL/BRADFORD, ON) – An ongoing investigation, that began in September 2024, that has been conducted by the combined Barrie Police-South Simcoe Police Street Crime Auto Theft Unit and the Anti-money Laundering unit, Investigations and Enforcement Bureau of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), resulted in the arrest of a 34-year-old male, and a 35-year-old female, both from Innisfil, Ontario.
The joint forces entered into multiple criminal investigations spanning across several regions in the Greater Toronto Area involving a stolen vehicle, forged identification and other property crimes. The individuals associated with the criminal offences focused their attention on auto theft to obtain personal identification to carry out fraud related thefts.
On October 7, 2024, the Orillia OPP Detachment began a fraud investigation at the Costco in the City of Orillia. Through investigation and collaboration with the South Simcoe Police Service, the 34-year-old male was identified and linked to additional incidents in other areas. Further, on November 19, 2024, detectives from the combined Barrie Police-South Simcoe Police Street Crime Auto Theft Unit and OPP, completed a search warrant at a residence in Innisfil. During the investigation, detectives recovered a Ford Transit Van that was reported stolen in Peel region on October 25, 2024. As a result of the investigation, the two individuals were arrested and charged with 35 criminal offences that include Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000, Possession of Property obtained by Crime under $5,000, Identity Theft, Possession of Identity documents, Possession of a Device for purpose of committing theft and Theft of gas.
The 34-year-old male was held for a bail hearing and remanded into custody, and the 35-year-old female was released on a Form 10 Undertaking.
These types of investigations are complex and require hours of specialized police work to take place long before any arrests can be made. This investigation, as well as others that are ongoing with regards to auto theft, have been made possible by the Preventing Auto Thefts (PAT) Grant that the Barrie and South Simcoe Police Services received from the Province of Ontario to combat and prevent auto theft.
Report Fraud and Cybercrime
In 2023, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) processed 62,365 fraud reports involving over $554 million in reported losses. We would like to remind the public to monitor and check their credit report for suspicious activities such as credit inquiries or unknown accounts. If you or someone you know suspects they’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) toll free by calling 1-888-495-8501 or through the Fraud Reporting System online, even if a financial loss did not occur.
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