Three people are charged and eight stolen vehicles have been recovered after police took down a car theft ring that was operating in London and Middlesex County.
Police said between April 24 and April 29, thieves stole vehicles, keys and documents from several dealerships in the city of London and the County of Middlesex.
As a result, the Ontario Provincial Police, with help from the London Police Service, Chippewa Police Service and Oneida Police Service, executed a search warrant on April 30 at a motel in the Mississauga area. During the raid, officers recovered eight stolen vehicles and over 175 vehicle keys.
Amber Cottrelle, 31, of London and Saul Flores-Cruz, 32, of St. Thomas were arrested at the scene. A third suspect in connection with the vehicle thefts, Kalihwi Rodarte, 26, of the Oneida Nation of the Thames First Nation, was arrested previously on April 25 after he allegedly fled from police in a stolen pickup truck.
Flores-Cruz is now charged with mischief under $ 5,000, failure to comply with a release order, theft of a motor vehicle, break and enter to commit an indictable offence, fraudulent concealment, five counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and five counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
Cottrelle is charged with possession of an identity document, failing to comply with a probation order, fraudulent concealment, five counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and six counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
Rodarte, who was already in custody, is charged with one count of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, operation of a vehicle while prohibited, break and enter to commit an indictable offence, and mischief under $ 5,000.
All three remained in police custody at the time of publication and are scheduled to appear in a London courtroom at a later date.
The OPP said an investigation is ongoing.
