Toronto man arrested for a dozen Guelph vehicle thefts

A Toronto man has been arrested in connection with an alleged sophisticated auto theft ring in which a dozen vehicles were stolen from Guelph earlier this year.

The 26-year-old was originally arrested March 12 after members of the Guelph Police Service Break Enter Auto Theft Unit recovered a 2021 Ram TRX pick-up which had been reported stolen from Guelph earlier that day.

The man was later released on bail on charges including theft of a motor vehicle and possessing stolen property over $5,000.

“Even though Guelph’s overall crime rate remains lower than the national average, theft of any kind can affect people’s sense of safety,” said Police Chief Gord Cobey “Our officers remain focused on disrupting organized groups involved in auto theft and holding those responsible accountable.”

The Break Enter Auto Theft Unit continued to investigate a number of vehicle thefts reported during the winter of 2026 -- including seven Honda CRVs – with a total value in excess of $600,000.

Police believe the man is part of a sophisticated auto theft ring targeting high-end vehicles for resale. Officers recovered two on-board diagnostic (OBD) vehicle reprogramming devices, a number of break-in tools and several counterfeit bills during the investigation.

On Thursday officers arrested the same man on charges including 11 new counts of motor vehicle theft, 10 counts of possessing stolen property over $5,000, two counts of possessing an electronic device for the purpose of motor vehicle theft, possessing break-in instruments and possessing counterfeit currency. He was held for a bail hearing Friday.

While police continue to work towards disrupting organized theft activity, residents can also take steps to make auto theft more difficult. Police recommend parking indoors when possible or in well-lit areas, ensuring vehicle doors and windows are closed and locked, employing anti-theft devices to prevent vehicles from being started or steered and using devices to block signals from electronic keys. Anyone who sees suspicious activity around unattended vehicles, especially during overnight hours, is asked to call police.

(Occurrence number GU26016233)