NEWS RELEASE
WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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Waterloo Regional Police have recovered nine stolen vehicles and laid over 50 criminal charges in connection to an ongoing fraud investigation involving stolen vehicles.
In March 2024, members of WRPS’ Direct Action Response Team (DART) began an investigation into the fraudulent rental of vehicles across southwestern Ontario.
Through investigation, police determined that several individuals from Waterloo Region were engaged in providing stolen identity documents to obtain rental vehicles and failing to return them to the rental companies.
Further investigation linked the involved individuals to a series of vehicle thefts from local used-car dealerships. The suspects allegedly attended car dealerships and presented stolen identity documents to test-drive vehicles. The suspects would then fail to return the vehicles.
Currently, DART investigators have charged five individuals in connection to this investigation, including a 28-year-old female and a 43-year-old male, both from Waterloo. The accused parties have been charged with over 50 criminal offences, including:
- Identity fraud
- Possession of stolen property over $5,000
- Possession of an identity document
- Fraud under $5,000
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
- Motor vehicle theft
The investigation remains ongoing and additional arrests and charges are anticipated.
Police are encouraging vehicle rental companies and dealerships to consider the following tips to help prevent this type of vehicle theft:
- Scrutinize identity documents presented to rent or test-drive vehicles and make a copy of the documents.
- Request two other pieces of identification in addition to a driver’s licence (e.g., provincial health card, current utility bill, credit card).
- Charge a security deposit to the driver’s credit card prior to the vehicle leaving the premises.
- Require the driver to provide a contact phone number, and call it before they leave the premises.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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