44 charges laid, stolen vehicles recovered

A Windsor Police Service cruiser is seen in this image from October 2018. (Source: Windsor police)

A total of 44 charges have been laid in connection to a vehicle theft investigation in Windsor.

According to police, the investigation began on July 7 when a pickup truck with fraudulent Ontario license plate was seen. They said the description matched that of a truck reported stolen in Essex in June.

Windsor police officers said they were led to a home in the 2200 block of Cadillac Street through the investigation, finding the pickup truck, confirming it was stolen.

When on the property, police said they found two more stolen vehicles and a trailer that was fraudulently rented with stolen ID.

The vehicles were searched, resulting in various pieces of stolen information, such as ID cards, cheques, insurance papers, and other documents belonging to several other people.

A 31-year-old man was arrested inside the home without incident. He is facing the following charges:

• 13 counts of obtaining identity information for a fraudulent offence
• 13 counts of procure to be made/possess/transfer/sell the identity document of another
• Personation to gain an advantage
• Fraud under $5,000
• Uttering a forged document
• Seven counts of possession of property obtained by crime
• Two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Four counts of failure to comply with a release order
• Two counts of breach of probation

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the WPS Target Base Unit at 519-255-6700 extension 4350. Anonymous tips can also be sent to Crime Stoppers online or by calling 519-258-8477.