Halton police recover 32 vehicles, charge 4 in auto theft investigation

Halton police have completed a large auto theft investigation that resulted in the recovery of 32 stolen vehicles worth $2.2 million.

Officer said the initiative called Project Eleanor began in January 2022 following a series of vehicle thefts from driveways in the region.

The thieves would reportedly spot the vehicles during the day and then return at night, force their way into the vehicle and reprogram its computer to recognize a new key fob.

Police said certain vehicles were targeted due to a high resale value overseas.

Officers in Halton partnered with the Canada Border Services Agency. They identified a shipping yard in Mississauga, where they found the stolen vehicles, technology used in reprogramming auto theft and $11,000.

The stolen vehicles included nine Ford F-150s; seven Toyota Highlanders; three Jeep Grand Cherokees; one Honda CR-V; seven Land Rovers; three Lexus RX 350s; and two Dodge Durangos.

On Jan. 8, police arrested and charged 22-year-old Alexandre Doyon of Toronto, 22-year-old Konstantinos Sotiropoulos of Quebec and 23-year-old Gustavo Salazar of Toronto.

Then on April 23, officers arrested and charged 19-year-old Bailey Gaulin of Toronto and rearrested 22-year-old Alexandre Doyon of Toronto.

Police continue to make efforts to arrest other people connected to the investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2216.