OPP Smashes Stolen Car Ring Specializing In High End Vehicles
Wednesday October 25, 2006
It looks like the biggest sales lot in the world, stocked with high-end vehicles like Hummers, Porsches and Cadillacs. But you can’t find this place anywhere on earth. At least not legally.
They’re just a few of the cars seized in a major OPP joint operations bust called Project Eastbound, in which a gang of thieves made off with expensive cars worth at least $6 million.
Fifty of the pricey rides were pilfered from owners in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick and then rerouted here, where they were given phony Vehicle Identification Numbers.
Those digits are assigned to every car made so it can be easily identified. When the VIN’s are changed and reregistered, the chance of matching a stolen car to its original owner becomes significantly more difficult.
The stolen vehicles were then resold in the same provinces where they were taken from, garnering easy money and leaving the original owners without their high priced wheels.
Seven people, mostly from the Barrie area, have been charged with a total of 184 offences, including fraud, possession of stolen property and uttering forged documents.
Another seven are still being sought in the 14-month long investigation.
It’s a small dent in a huge problem.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates 160,000 cars were taken illegally from all provinces last year - and a third of those were never recovered. Records show about 50 stolen vehicles leave the country for parts unknown every day.
And it’s no longer just restricted to the random car thief.
The profit margins are so high, officials believe organized crime has moved into the activity, leaving the crooks well financed with all the latest tools and the means to get the automobiles into the waiting hands of the less than honest looking for a bargain.
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Car Thieves and How To Stop Them
You may not be able to keep the thieves from getting your car. Usually, if he really wants one, he’ll generally find a way. But there are some things you can do to minimize your risk of being hit that don’t involve driving around for life in an old clunker no one else would want.
Some are simple common sense rules. Others you may not have thought of. Here’s the list:
Always roll up your vehicle’s windows, lock the doors and pocket the key. Don’t leave a spare hidden anywhere on the car itself. No matter how clever you think you are, thieves know all your hiding places.
Lock your gas tank cap.
Keep your vehicle registration certificate and proof of insurance on you at all times. Leaving it in your glove compartment or visor means it can be easily taken and used to prove someone else owns the vehicle.
Never leave valuable objects or packages in full view. Put them in the trunk.
Always park your vehicle in a well-lighted spot.
Prevent thieves from towing your vehicle by parking with your wheels turned sharply and the emergency brake on.
Give only your ignition key to a parking lot attendant. Keep your other keys with you.
If you have a garage, use it and lock the door as well as your vehicle.
Be cautious of “too good to be true” offers to buy a vehicle. Don’t become a victim of fraud.
Inform police of any activities or vehicles that look suspicious to you.
Install an effective theft deterrent system, which will delay and discourage thieves.An electronic immobilizer, in which only a specific key can turn on the ignition, is increasingly becoming a standard in most new vehicles, and many insurance companies will give you a break on your rates if you have one.
Don’t use a remote-starter system. It may be more comfortable in the winter, but it’s a temptation thieves can’t resist. And it can turn your warm car into a hot one.
Have the windows and major components of your vehicle etched.
Hide your business card or your home address under the floormats and seats and inside the doors. If the VIN number is changed, this could be the evidence police need to prove it’s yours.
Keep all the records of your vehicle in a safe place and make sure you record the serial number of your car somewhere else.
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Here's a list of some other after-market items you can purchase to further secure your wheels:
IGNITION KILL SWITCH: toggle switch spliced into ignition that disables your vehicle
FUEL KILL SWITCH: switch spliced into fuel system wiring that stops fuel supply
STEERING WHEEL LOCK: stops the steering wheel from turning
GEARSHIFT LOCK: disables shifting transmission
TIRE/WHEEL LOCKS: tool wraps around tires/wheels to immobilize your car
HOOD LOCK: stops anyone from opening hood to your engine area
STEERING COLUMNS COLLAR: protects steering column from ignition entry
ELECTRONIC ALARMS: those with "kill "switches are most effective
VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM: transmitter in the vehicle allows GPS tracking.
Why Are Cars Stolen?
O.K., the answer seems obvious. But it may not be. Here’s a look at the reasons besides simply to resell it or for parts.
About half of stolen vehicles are taken to commit another crime or as destination theft. That’s defined as stealing a car to drive it, often recklessly, for enjoyment. Thieves usually leave it abandoned and vandalized.
Some theft rings steal vehicles to order. A specific make and model of vehicle is scouted and stolen, and often resold at an incredibly low price. The new owner is typically in for a rude surprise, as the ring will often steal the vehicle back and resell it to someone else, or the vehicle will be seized by police.
“Chop shops” strip vehicles and sell off components, often to legitimate businesses that are unaware the parts are stolen. This is a big business that accounts for millions of dollars a year in profits for criminals.
Theft rings under the control of organized crime use automobile theft to finance other criminal activities, including drug-trafficking, money-laundering, prostitution and terrorism.
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Courtesy: Insurance Bureau of Canada and Halton Regional Police