Hamilton auto dealer linked to trafficking of stolen vehicles: police

A Hamilton police partnership investigation into auto theft has resulted in the discovery of the trafficking of stolen vehicles at a local dealership and the arrest of a man on numerous criminal charges.

The police’s B.E.A.R. Unit, in partnership with Équité Association, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, and neighbouring police services, conducted an extensive auto theft investigation titled Project Big Cat.

During the investigation, Bengal Auto, an auto sales dealership on Dunbar Avenue, was identified as being involved in the trafficking of stolen vehicles over several years. The vehicles were fraudulently registered through the dealer, with vehicle identification numbers (VINs) cloned or altered to appear legitimate.

On November 13, members of the police’s B.E.A.R. Unit, along with partner agencies, executed several search warrants in the Hamilton area.

To date, investigators have identified over 36 stolen vehicles, with an estimated total value of approximately $2.7 million. Of these, 23 vehicles have been successfully recovered by police agencies across the province.

A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the operation and is facing 15 criminal charges, including: trafficking in property obtained by crime, fraud, use and making of forged documents, possession of property obtained by crime and altering, destroying or removing a VIN. The authorities have not yet revealed his name or home city.

Police urge anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact Detective Shaun Fennessy of the Hamilton Police Service B.E.A.R. Unit at 905-546-3849 or Detective Staff Sergeant David Brewster at 905-546-2991.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers of Hamilton at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online.