Toronto police have made an arrest in connection with the vandalism and theft of catalytic converters on seven delivery trucks belonging to a Toronto-based food charity over the Thanksgiving weekend, as their search for a second suspect and a suspect vehicle continues.
On Thursday morning, Acting Supt. Jeff Bangild said as a result of tips received, officers from 22 Division in Etobicoke executed a Criminal Code search warrant at a residence in Oakville, where they located and arrested 29-year-old Corey Peter Lane.
Lane, an Oakville resident, is facing three counts each of break and enter commit, fail to comply with release order, and fail to comply with probation order.
The charges have not been tested in court. The accused, Bangild said, was out on both bail and probation.
Lane was scheduled to appear in bail court on Oct. 15.
“We’re looking for additional information as we believe other people may have seen this individual on their property. They may have known who he’s associated with and may have information that may facilitate further investigation,” Bangild said, adding evidence in relation to this offence is “in the process of being collected.”
Accused responsible for 2 other incidents: police
The acting superintendent said they believe the accused is responsible for the theft incident at Second Harvest as well as two others nearby.
“The other two counts of break and enter are in relation to other properties within the south Toronto community, both of which are facilities that have vehicles of this similar nature in them, and catalytic converters were stolen off those vehicles as well,” Bangild said.
“So all three counts of the break and enter are in relation to the same modus operandi in which catalytic converters were stolen off vehicles.”
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Police say the first incident happened on Sept. 13, just after 2 a.m., near North Queen Street and Kipling Avenue.
According to investigators, unknown suspects broke into a business in that area and allegedly damaged several vehicles during the process of removing catalytic converters. They then fled the area in a vehicle.
It is further alleged that on Oct. 11, at around 12:45 a.m., unknown suspects broke into a business near The East Mall and North Queen Street.
Again, police said several vehicles were damaged during the process of removing catalytic converters, with the suspects fleeing the area in a vehicle.
Second suspect, vehicle outstanding
Bangild that a second suspect remains outstanding as well as a suspect vehicle, a black Infiniti G25 four-door sedan with black rims.
The acting superintendent said this vehicle was not at the Oakville home when the search warrant was executed.
Second Harvest theft on Sunday
Just after 12 a.m. on Sunday morning, suspects drove into a parking lot and entered the truck yard of Second Harvest, a national charity headquartered in Etobicoke at 120 The East Mall, on foot.
They then allegedly cut through the exhaust systems of seven delivery trucks and stole their catalytic converters before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle they arrived in.
It all happened in less than five minutes, CEO Lori Nikkel previously told CP24.
Second Harvest, which is Canada’s largest food rescue organization, is estimating that the cost of the repairs will be $80,000.
Nikkel said they have auto insurance coverage, however the deductible for each truck is significant, and making a claim could impact premiums, not to mention other costs they’ll need to incur for more security and vehicle rentals, as well as the installation of protective cages around the exhaust systems of the trucks in their fleet.
Earlier this week, Aurora Foods came forward with a $60,000 donation to help Second Harvest pay for the cost of repairing the damaged vehicles. The Canadian food importing company also donated three skids of dry and canned goods and signed on to be an ongoing donor.
The seven affected trucks, Nikkel added, could be out of service for two to three weeks. They are currently at an auto repair shop, which is still working to ascertain the extent of the damage, she said.
Devices of high value on black market
Bangild said catalytic converters are “of high value within the black market” and are popular items with thieves.
“They are resold for various reasons. The exact dollar value, I can’t speak to myself, but I know that there are high-value items,” he said.
“That is, it’s not the first time this has occurred in the city.”
Banglid added that what occurred at Second Harvest over the weekend and the two other nearby locations was likely a “crime of opportunity.”
None of the stolen catalytic converters have been recovered at this point, he noted.
Investigation ongoing
This investigation is ongoing and investigators say they are attempting to locate additional suspects and identify other businesses that may have been victims of these thefts.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact Toronto police at 416-808-2200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
