15 arrests, 75 charges laid in connection with GTA car theft investigation

Halton police are among those involved in a police task force that led to the arrest of 15 people that were allegedly part of an organized crime ring across the Greater Toronto Area.

Officers in the Halton, Peel and Toronto regions, as well as OPP and border patrol officers began investigating the alleged crime ring last year as they observed cargo and cargo thefts spiking throughout the province.

The task force, labeled “Project Big Rig”, resulted in 15 arrests with a total of 75 charges laid, the recovery of nearly $7 million in stolen cargo, over $2 million in stolen tractor trailers and a total estimated value of over $9 million in stolen property recovered.

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Peel Regional Police Det. Mark Haywood says officers discovered that suspects had targeted cargo and tractor trailers in six GTA locations by breaking through fences and driving the trucks away or by stealing trucks that had pulled over onto the side of the road.

Det. Haywood tsays the suspects then allegedly sold stolen goods at flea markets and stores.

The suspects in custody are from several different cities throughout the GTA and range in ages from 45 to 22 years old.

With 75 charges laid thus far, Det. Haywood says that more arrests in cargo and car thefts can be expected to come later this year.

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