Guelph vehicle theft leads to three arrests

The theft of a car from a Guelph gym has led to the arrest of three Brampton men believed to be involved in several similar thefts across Ontario.

The evening of December 31, a man entered a business on Eramosa Road and signed up for a membership using a fraudulent identification. He then attended the changeroom, where he stole a bag containing a wallet and the keys to a 2017 Toyota Camry.

The suspect got into a vehicle driven by a second male and they drove around the parking lot until they located the Camry, which was then stolen.

The Guelph Police Service Break Enter Auto Theft Unit took over the investigation and identified a suspect. Officers attended his address in Brampton last Friday and located the stolen Camry with a fake licence plate attached. While conducting surveillance, officers saw three men, including their suspect driving in a Toyota van which had been stolen from Toronto earlier that morning.

The three were arrested after exiting the van a short distance away to switch the licence plates.

Three Brampton men – aged 27 to 32 – face charges including possessing stolen property over $5,000, possessing stolen property under $5,000, occupying a stolen motor vehicle and breaching court orders. All three were held for bail hearings on Wednesday.

The investigation is ongoing and involves police services from other jurisdictions.