2 men, 16-year-old arrested after allegedly stealing licence plates in Scarborough

A Toronto police cruiser is seen in this undated photo.

Toronto police have laid charges against two men and a 16-year-old accused of stealing licence plates and attaching them to their stolen vehicle.

Police said officers observed suspects removing the licence plates from a parked vehicle in the area of Morningside and Halfway Avenues, south of Finch Avenue, shortly before 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday.

The suspects allegedly also smashed the vehicle’s sunroof and tried to get inside but were unsuccessful.

Police said the suspects then affixed the plates to their vehicle and left the scene.

Shortly after, officers engaged the suspects, who then allegedly collided with a cruiser intentionally.

Police said one suspect fled on foot but was apprehended along with two others.

Officers later determined that the vehicle was stolen, and inside, they allegedly located a car key programming device and a programmable master key.

Two suspects have been identified as 19-year-old Alaa Khaled and 18-year-old Matin Ahmad, both from Toronto. The third suspect is a 16-year-old and cannot be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

All three have been charged with theft not exceeding $5,000, attempt to commit dual procedure offence, unlawfully purchasing an automobile master key, possession of an electronic device for a motor vehicle theft, and two counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

Khaled is facing additional charges of dangerous operation, driving a motor vehicle while suspended, four counts of failure to comply with a release order and two counts of breach of probation.

The teen has also been charged with three counts of failure to comply with a release order.