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Stolen cars shipped to Dubai return to Ontario, say police

Halton police have recovered four stolen vehicles that were shipped to Dubai in 2023. Halton Regional Police

Four stolen vehicles a part of a larger group shipped overseas to Dubai in early 2023 have been recovered, according to Halton police.

Investigators say the Lexus SUV, Range Rover and two Ford-150s were part of $2.1 million in vehicles flagged during an auto theft probe that started in February of last year.

Three of the vehicles were taken from the Toronto-area and another in Halton Region.

A task force, which included Canada Border Services, says police in Dubai intercepted containers with the vehicles and rerouted them back to Canada in January.

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The total value of the four cars recovered is estimated to be around $200,000.

Some 24 vehicles, earmarked for the same destination, did leave Canadian shores early last year but never made it to Dubai after authorities intercepted them in Morocco.

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The lot included a Rolls-Royce valued at $500,000.

Detectives say the cars were primarily ‘reprogram’ thefts, in which suspects were able to be driven away using a new key.

No arrests have been made in connection with the thefts, say police.

The recoveries come a day before a scheduled summit between politicians, police and vehicle manufacturers on auto-theft.

They are seeking ways to try to stem an uptick in the crime across most major Canadian cities.

In November, the Ford government announced Hamilton will receive $895,000 of an estimated $18-million fund for efforts to reduce vehicle thefts across Ontario.

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