When police came across a couple of stolen Cadillac Escalades, last April, they started their investigation and bided their time.

A full year later, "Operation Makeup" resulting in five arrests and 14 seized vehicles valued at $900,000.

The joint investigation between Ottawa Police and MRC des Collines intensified over the past three months. Police say the vehicles were stolen in Quebec, given new vehicle identification numbers, before being registered in Ontario and sold on both sides of the river.

The vehicles were seized from the new unsuspecting owners, who are now also victims of the crime. Police say they were not arrested or charged.

The vehicles were never resold at dealerships but private sale websites. Police say the red flag was some of the vehicles were sold up to $30,000 below market value.

Police have yet to lay any charges.

The vehicles will likely be sold at auction by insurance companies to recoup the replacement costs.