Petawawa Toyota was one of the victims of a high-end vehicle theft ring that has been shut down in a joint effort involving the OPP and police forces in Central and Eastern Ontario and Quebec.
Officers say several Quebec residents have been charged in the multi-jurisdictional thefts that occurred from June of 2019 until now.
In what police dubbed “Project Shildon”, police were able to recover 97 stolen vehicles which were crated, and ready to be shipped for resale overseas.
Police say the thieves were able to reprogram vehicle fobs and make off with the vehicles from dealer lots as well as private homes and driveways.
The five month investigation has paid off with twenty arrests and a total of 350 charges.
Search warrants also yielded items stolen from the vehicles, drugs including meth, MDMA, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis.
Officers confiscated hardware used to gain access and replicate key fobs.
Petawawa Toyota was one of the dealerships hit on the night of September 4th, when thieves stole seven vehicles from the lot.
Police remind the public to guard against these new electronic thefts by not leaving their vehicles unattended and by parking in a well-lit area or locked garage.
