Large-Scale Theft of Luxury Cars in Canada
A bold and swift theft from a car dealership in Ontario, Canada, resulted in the theft of cars worth approximately 2 million Canadian dollars. Police managed to detain two suspects, but the search for other members of the criminal group continues. The robbery itself, carried out by a group of masked thieves in the early morning hours, was clearly planned and executed in a matter of minutes.
Crime Details
A group of approximately eight individuals broke into Lockwood Leasing at 3:35 a.m. on January 11. Once inside, the criminals went straight to the location where car keys were stored without any unnecessary movements. Their loot consisted of eight premium cars: a Porsche 911 GT3, a Porsche 911 Carrera, two BMW M4s, a Ferrari, and three Mercedes-Benz models, including two S580s.
Despite the premises having surveillance cameras that recorded the entire robbery, the alarm system that could have alerted law enforcement was absent at the time. Furthermore, none of the stolen cars had license plates, which typically complicates their search.
Investigation and Results
According to Halton Regional Police, the Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, one of the BMW M4s, and the Ferrari were found abandoned in the Greater Toronto Area. Soon after, law enforcement managed to track down the second Porsche 911 and detain two men involved in the theft.
Two 24-year-old men were charged with break and enter and using disguise to conceal identity. After being held in custody, they were released on bail.
The Search Continues
Police continue to search for three cars that remain missing after the brazen overnight theft. Law enforcement is urging local residents who may have any information to contact the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau. Tips can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
All participants in the theft were dressed in black clothing, including hoodies, balaclavas, or face masks, which concealed their identity from cameras and undoubtedly complicated the work of tracking them.
Similar incidents, where criminals specifically target car dealerships, indicate a high level of organization and the possible existence of channels for selling stolen premium cars. The lack of a powerful alarm system at a facility storing such valuables appears to be a serious security gap. The successful recovery of some of the vehicles may indicate that the thieves could have encountered unforeseen obstacles or were acting under pressure, forcing them to abandon the cars. The situation also raises questions about the effectiveness of modern security systems for car dealerships, especially at night, and the need for closer interaction between businesses and law enforcement agencies to prevent such crimes.