Thieves swap the fob to steal vehicle from Rockland, Ont. lot
A brazen vehicle theft from a car lot in Rockland, Ont. was caught on camera this week and was likely a success because the alleged thieves took the original key fob used to get into the vehicle and swapped it with a fake.
"Right away it was kind of a red flag here for me," said Matthew Wilson from G & M Auto Sales and Service in Rockland, 35 km east of downtown Ottawa.
On Wednesday, three men asked to see a Jeep Cherokee and a Dodge Charger, but Wilson says things quickly felt amiss—the man purchasing the vehicle didn't have his licence and they kept asking if there were more expensive vehicles, he said.
The man checked out the Charger and promised to return with a licence. It was then Wilson discovered the key fob didn't work.
"I went to that car and the car's not working, doors aren't opening," he said. "I gave them the benefit of the doubt for a second, I went into the shop, changed the battery, obviously still not working."
Security footage he viewed after shows two men appearing to swap key fobs. The company contacted Ontario Provincial Police in the hopes a sting operation would prevent a theft but Wilson showed up at work the next day to find the Charger missing.
G & M Auto Sales and Service in Rockland, Ont. says security footage shows two men appearing to swap key fobs for a vehicle while checking out a vehicle on Wednesday. The Dodge Charger was stolen Thursday morning. (G & M Auto Sales and Service/submitted)
"At 2:58 a.m., two vehicles showed up, five of them actually this time came out and made the escape with the Charger, pushed right through our blocker that we had… damaged that, probably damaged the Charger a bit too and took off with the vehicle."
The OPP says the investigation is ongoing, adding vehicle theft is keeping officers around the region busy.
Wilson doesn’t think he'll see the vehicle again, but hopes the footage will help police make arrests in the future.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.