Traffic stop on 401 leads to dozens of vehicle theft charges
Four people from the Montreal area are facing dozens of criminal charges linked to vehicle thefts, Ontario Provincial Police said Monday.
OPP officers pulled over two vehicles on Highway 401 eastbound near the Thousand Islands Bridge Sunday morning because of a traffic offence. According to an OPP news release, one of the vehicles had been reported stolen.
Three people between the ages of 19 and 21, all from Montreal, and a 31-year-old from Laval, Que. are each facing a slew of charges, some of which include theft of a motor vehicle, possession of break-in instruments, possessing automobile master key, mischief to computer data and possession of an imitation weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Accused are Kevin Cesar, 21, Iverson Brisson, 20, and Abelina Alceus Villegas, 19. Cesar is also charged with breach of probation and driving without a licence, among other offences and Alceus Villegas is facing a charge of obstructing a peace officer.
Colbert Aluc, 31, of Laval is also facing several charges including theft of a motor vehicle and mischief to computer data.
High-end vehicles with proximity keys are popular targets for thieves. Technology exists to copy or exploit the data that links the owner’s key to the vehicle, allowing thieves to simply unlock and start the car themselves. Police claim these thefts can take place in less than a minute.
Ottawa police said Monday that a man was hurt after confronting two would-be thieves who were trying to steal his SUV in a mall parking lot this weekend. Police have claimed that more than 1,000 vehicles have been reported stolen in Ottawa so far this year, including nearly 200 in November alone.
OPP said the four accused in this case have been held for bail hearings.
FULL LIST OF CHARGES
Kevin Cesar, 21, Iverson Brisson, 20, and Abelina Alceus Villegas, 19 are charged with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 - Criminal Code 354(1)(a)
- Theft over $5000 of a motor vehicle - CC 334(a)
- Conspiracy to commit indictable offence - CC 465(1)(c)
- Possession of break in instruments - CC 351(1)
- Possessing automobile master key - CC 353(1)(b)
- Mischief to computer data, destroy or alter - CC 430(1.1)(a)
- Mischief under $5000 - CC 430(4)
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000 - CC 354(1)(a)
- Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose - CC 88
- Possession of imitation weapon for dangerous purpose - CC 88
Cesar is further charged with:
- Failure to comply with release order - CC 145(5)(a) - four counts
- Fail to comply with probation order - CC 733.1(1) - four counts
- Drive motor vehicle with no licence - Highway Traffic Act (HTA) 32(1)
- Drive vehicle with cannabis readily available - Cannabis Control Act, 2017 (CCA) 12(1)
Alceus Villegas has also been charged with:
- Obstruct Peace Officer, section 129(a) of the Criminal Code.
Brisson has been additionally charged with:
- Two counts of breach of recognizance, section 811 of the Criminal Code.
Colbert Aluc, 31, has been charged with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 - CC 354(1)(a)
- Mischief to computer data, destroy or alter - CC 430(1.1)(a)
- Theft over $5000 of a motor vehicle - CC 334(a)
- Mischief under $5000 - CC 430(4)
- Conspiracy to commit indictable offence - CC 465(1)(c)
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000 - CC 354(1)(a)
- Fail to comply with probation order - CC 733.1(1) - two counts
- Possession of a schedule I substance, Cocaine - Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) 4(1)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Budget 2024 'likely to be the worst' in decades, former BoC governor says
Without having seen it, former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge believes that Tuesday's 2024 federal budget from Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is 'likely to be the worst budget' in decades.
What's at stake for Canada after Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel
Following the Iranian missile and drone strikes against Israel over the weekend, Canada should take the threat of Iran and potential escalation of the conflict seriously, one global affairs analyst says.
Former B.C. school trustee's 'strip-tease artist' remark was defamatory, judge rules
A controversial former school trustee from B.C.'s Fraser Valley who described a political rival as a "strip-tease artist" during an election campaign has been ordered to pay her $45,000 for defamation.
'A sense of urgency': Sask. man accused of abducting daughter calls himself to the stand during trial
Michael Gordon Jackson, the man on trial after being charged with contravention of a custody order for allegedly abducting his daughter in late 2021 to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, called himself to the stand Monday.
Kingston, Ont.'s Aaliyah Edwards drafted into WNBA
After four years at the University of Connecticut, Edwards was selected sixth overall by the Washington Mystics in the WNBA draft Monday night.
NASA confirms mystery object that crashed through roof of Florida home came from space station
NASA confirmed Monday that a mystery object that crashed through the roof of a Florida home last month was a chunk of space junk from equipment discarded at the International Space Station.
A knife attack in Australia against a bishop and a priest is being treated as terrorism, police say
Horrified worshippers watched online and in person as a bishop was stabbed at the altar during a church service in Sydney on Sunday evening.
Body of 14-year-old boy pulled from Lake Ontario, police say he drowned while swimming
The body of a 14-year-old boy has been pulled from Lake Ontario after police say he drowned while swimming near Ashbridges Bay Park on Sunday night.
'Rust' armourer gets 18 months in prison for fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin on set
A movie weapons supervisor was sentenced to 18 months in prison in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on the set of 'Rust.'