LONG SAULT – Investigation of a high-end vehicle theft ring, which hit an Ingleside Ford dealership in June, now involves more law enforcement agencies and some vehicles have been recovered.
Speaking to South Stormont council Wednesday night, SD&G O.P.P. Staff Sgt. Ameen Khan says the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Montreal police are now involved, as the thieves were trying to ship stolen vehicles out of the country.
Ottawa police and Hawkesbury O.P.P. were already involved with SD&G O.P.P. Street Crime Unit, which is the lead investigator.
“The investigation has been very fruitful. A number of shipping containers were intercepted and stolen vehicles recovered,” Khan told council.
The sergeant added that he “didn’t have specifics” of what was recovered but indicated that Mayor Bryan McGillis was updated on the investigation “a few weeks ago.”
Six 2019 model Ford pickup trucks were stolen from S.G. Wells Ford on County Road 2 in Ingleside in June.
In July, Khan told the township council that the dealership theft wasn’t an isolated case as other thefts happened in Hawkesbury and Ottawa.
High-end vehicle thefts in South Stormont led to a jump in cases involving thefts over $5,000. There were 40 last month compared to 27 in July 2018.