Man arrested in Hanover while trying to buy SUV with fake ID

A Hanover Police Service's sign is seen in this undated photo. (File)

Three people are facing charges after police in Hanover, Ont. arrested a man who they said was trying to buy a vehicle with a fake ID.

On April 10, a local car dealership contacted the Hanover Police Service about a potential identity theft and fraud attempt involving the purchase of a $140,000 SUV.

Investigators discovered a person from Elgin County had been the victim of identity theft, forgery and fraud.

The next day, plain clothes and uniform officers arrested a suspect as he tried to complete the purchase with what they call an ‘authentic but fake Ontario driver’s licence.’

Shortly after, two other men involved in the case were identified and arrested a few blocks away. Police searched a black Mercedes four-door sedan the pair had been driving and found stolen licence plates from the Greater Toronto Area and other documents linked to stolen high-end vehicles.

A 45-year-old man from Timmins has been charged with unauthorized possession of a credit card, attempt to use a forged document, possession of an identity document, identity theft, personation with intent to obtain property and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

A 33-year-old Hamilton man and a 41-year-old Oakville man were both charged with possession of stolen property, counselling to commit an indictable offence, possession of an identity document and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Police are still trying to identity two other male suspects involved in the case. They were driving a black Volkswagen Tiguan with dark tinted windows. Police said they were in the area of 10th Street and 18th Avenue on April 11 between 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. Investigators believe they were conducting counter-surveillance while working with the other suspects.