Auto Cargo Theft Unit

The 11-member Auto/Cargo Theft Unit is tasked with the investigation of organized groups involved in the theft and transportation of stolen vehicles, including those with altered or fraudulent vehicle identification numbers as well as the theft of heavy equipment and cargo.

Following a six-month investigation, members of the unit charged five men in connection with the 2009 theft of $1.5 million worth of ink cartridges from a Richmond Hill warehouse. Cellular phones, a .22 calibre rifle, a .45 calibre pistol, computer equipment, ink cartridges and approximately $8,000 in cash were seized following the arrests.

Members of the Auto/Cargo Theft Unit also engage in crime prevention initiatives and they have seen operational results. Project Ice Cube, began with alerting the public to an increase in warm-up thefts of vehicles. That initiative led to the arrest of two men who were charged in connection with 21 warm-up thefts.