Greater than $5 million value of stolen autos have been recovered as a part of a sweeping investigation into organized auto theft networks working throughout Southern Ontario.
The Niagara Regional Police Service mentioned that in April 2025, an investigation into the theft of a single Lexus SUV rapidly expanded right into a probe involving dozens of car thefts linked to organized legal teams.
Since November 2025, investigators have examined greater than 50 thefts and tried thefts involving newer mannequin Lexus and Toyota autos in Niagara.
The losses are estimated to be about $20 thousands and thousands, in response to Niagara police detectives. Of that quantity, $5.5 million in stolen property has been recovered, leaving over $14 million unrecovered.
Police launched Undertaking Jack Hyperlinks in December 2025, concentrating on teams allegedly concerned in stealing high-end autos and trafficking them to abroad markets.
Investigators say a number of distinct legal networks had been recognized throughout the investigation.
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Whereas working independently, the teams shared a typical aim of stealing autos for export and resale overseas.
The accused are believed to be related to greater than 112 automobile theft-related incidents throughout Ontario, together with in Niagara, Hamilton, Brantford, Oakville, Burlington, London, Waterloo, Cambridge, Etobicoke and Toronto.
A number of arrests had been made throughout totally different phases of the investigation. Two teenage boys from St. Catharines had been arrested in January and 5 male youths had been arrested in Might following search warrants in Mississauga and Oakville. Police additionally arrested an 18-year-old Hamilton man and a 23-year-old Hamilton man in April after a search warrant was executed at a Hamilton residence.
Authorities say quite a few stolen autos had been later recovered on the Port of Montreal and had been allegedly being ready for export to West Africa.
Investigators say warrants have additionally been issued for a 20-year-old man from North Dumfries and a 22-year-old Quebec man in reference to the investigation.
The investigation stays ongoing and additional arrests and fees are anticipated within the coming weeks.
As public consciousness surrounding the rise in focused automobile thefts continues to develop, residents and guests are reminded to take proactive steps to scale back the chance of changing into a sufferer.
Police encourage the general public to at all times lock automobile doorways, take away valuables and keys/fobs from inside autos and keep away from leaving wallets, purses, identification, storage door openers or digital units in plain view.
The place doable, park autos in well-lit areas, secured garages, or monitored places and think about the usage of steering wheel locks or aftermarket monitoring units for added safety.
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