Police report nearly 30 luxury vehicle thefts in 2023 so far, six arrests in one week
Sophie Demers
Six individuals have been arrested for vehicle thefts last week. Police report nearly 30 vehicle thefts since the beginning of 2023.
On January 12, Gatineau police received a call at 11 pm concerning a suspicious vehicle in the Buckingham sector. Along with the car, an individual was in the passenger compartment of the caller's neighbour's car.
On arrival, the suspects left the scene, but police confirmed there was an attempt to steal the vehicle. Thanks to the description of the suspicious vehicle by the caller, police located it close to where the attempted theft took place. The two occupants, men aged 42 and 44 from the Lanaudière region, were arrested and taken to the police station to meet with investigators.
The two individuals were later released with conditions and a promise to appear. Charges of attempted vehicle theft and possession of a burglary tool will be submitted to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP).
Another incident occurred in the Gatineau Sector on January 19 when police were patrolling and saw a suspicious vehicle and individuals circling another one. The vehicle was stopped by police and the four occupants, two men and two women between the ages of 17 and 20 were arrested. The suspects were from the Ottawa, Lanaudière and Laval regions.
Charges of attempted vehicle theft and possession of burglary tools will be submitted for the two women, aged 18 and 19, and for the 20-year-old man to the DPCP. The 17-year-old will have the same charge submitted to the Youth Division of the DPCP.
Gatineau Police state that vehicle theft is not a new phenomenon. Car theft networks are active in most areas, including Gatineau. Due to the frequent reports, police officers have been assigned to carry out special operations targeting this type of crime.
To prevent this type of crime, police advise citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity in their neighbourhood. Suspects often scout areas by driving slowly through neighbourhoods. Parking vehicles in a well-lit area that has video surveillance can deter thieves.
Police highlight that there are several tools that can assist in protecting citizens’ vehicles, such as anti-theft devices for steering wheels, tracking systems independent from the vehicle, and on-board diagnostic protector which blocks access to the vehicle’s on-board computer.
