Waterloo Regional Police Service's Break, Enter, and Vehicle Theft Team has charged a two youths and two adults in connection to the investigation of two stolen vehicles in Waterloo.
On Nov. 7, members of WRPS’ Direct Action Response Team (DART) and Break, Enter, and Vehicle Theft (BEVT) Team located two stolen vehicles in Kitchener. Both vehicles were Acura TLXs, previously reported stolen to Niagara Regional Police Service and Peel Regional Police.
Around 5 p.m., on King Street East, BEVT investigators located two male suspects attending a stolen Acura occupied by a third female suspect. After a brief foot pursuit of one of the male suspects, all three individuals were arrested.
During the arrests, a large quantity of suspected cocaine and a reprogrammed vehicle key were located and seized.
Later the same evening, around 9:45 p.m., members of DART located another stolen Acura on Lancaster Street West and arrested a male suspect. A reprogrammed vehicle key was also seized.
As a result of the investigation, two 17-year-old males, one from Kitchener, and one from Hamilton, an 18-year-old male and an 18-year-old female, both from Kitchener, have been charged with Possession of Stolen Property Over $5,000.
The 17-year-old Hamilton male was also charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking. The 18-year-old male was also charged with Failure to Comply with Undertaking. Both were held in police custody for bail hearings.
To help prevent reprogramming thefts, vehicle owners are encouraged to consider taking the following measures:
- Block access to the onboard diagnostic port to prevent thieves from reprogramming the vehicle's key fob (a simple device can be purchased online).
- Use a steering wheel locking device to deter theft.
- When not in use, place the vehicle key fob inside a radio frequency shielding bag/pouch to block cell signals.
- Consider equipping your vehicle with an aftermarket Global Positioning System (GPS) tracker. The tracker may assist police in locating the vehicle and/or suspects.
- Ensure all keys are accounted for and never left in the vehicle or unattended.
Waterloo Regional Police Service says it is committed to reducing vehicle theft as a recipient of funding provided by the Ontario Government Preventing Auto Theft Grant.
