Multiple stolen vehicles from Barrie have been recovered and two people face charges after a lengthy investigation by police.
Officials say the month-long investigation was conducted by the Barrie Police Service and the South Simcoe Police Street Crime Auto Theft Unit, and aided by the York Regional Police.
"Since late June, the thieves focused their criminal enterprise on the theft of mid-sized Toyota pickup trucks and utilized stolen vehicles to carry out the thefts," Peter Leon, communications coordinator, wrote in a release on Monday.
"To date, three thefts from Barrie have resulted in the recovery of the stolen vehicles from locations within the Greater Toronto Area."
A 26-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, both from southern Simcoe County, were arrested in connection with the investigation.
They have been charged with 24 offences, including:
- Theft over $5000
- Attempt Theft of Motor Vehicle
- Mischief under $5000
- Failure to Comply with Release Orders
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
- Possession of an Automobile Master Key
- And other property-related offences
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Police say they were held for a bail hearing after their arrest last week and have since been remanded into custody.
"Investigations of this type are complex and require hours of specialized police work to take place long before any arrests can be made," Leon added.
"This investigation, as well as others that are ongoing with regards to auto theft, have been made possible by the recent grant that the Barrie and South Simcoe Police Services received from the Province of Ontario to combat and prevent auto theft.
"Crime knows no boundaries and police will go where the evidence takes them in order to hold those who choose to participate in criminal activity accountable for their actions."
