Toronto police say a man has been arrested in connection with the theft of catalytic converters from seven Second Harvest trucks.
Acting Supt. Jeff Bangild announced the arrest Thursday while investigators continue to search for a second suspect.
The news comes a day after police said officers were searching for one or more suspects allegedly behind the theft at the food rescue organization.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Second Harvest said suspects broke into its Toronto yard, cut through the exhaust systems of seven trucks and stole their catalytic converters.
All seven trucks were rendered out of service. The charity had been preparing for its previously advertised Thanksgiving turkey giveaway. Only two trucks were able to operate Sunday, and the organization said it was concerned about how it would meet demand in the coming week.
Repairs are expected to cost approximately $80,000 and take two to three weeks, CEO Lori Nikkel said. She announced Wednesday that Aurora Importing had donated $60,000 to help cover some of the costs.
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Bangild said officers executed a search warrant at a home in Oakville Wednesday and arrested a man.
Corey Peter Lane, 29, is facing multiple charges, including three counts of break and enter with intent to commit a criminal offence, three counts of failing to comply with a release order and three counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
Bangild alleged Lane was involved in two other catalytic converter thefts in south Etobicoke. He said the three break-and-enter charges relate to the Second Harvest incident and the two other catalytic converter thefts.
Global News learned that Lane was convicted of theft over $5,000 in relation to stealing catalytic converters from eight delivery trucks at the Clothing Pickup for Cerebral Palsy in Etobicoke in April 2024.
A spokesperson for the charity told Global News it cost more than $107,000 to rent trucks which the damage was repaired and to build a fence to deter future thefts.
A two-year probation order signed by Lane in 2025, obtained by Global News, shows that he was ordered to pay $67,000 in restitution for more than a dozen offences committed between 2022 and 2024, including $35,000 to Clothing Pickup for Cerebral Palsy.
The charity spokesperson said the restitution order is open and believed it’s money they will likely never see.
Duncan Salisbury, Second Harvest’s vice president of supply chain and logistics, told Global News he’s relieved an arrest has been made.
He said partners and the community have stepped up to support the organization, which is now able to maintain its service.
Police are looking for an additional suspect but have not released a description.
A black, four-door Infiniti G25 with black rims that investigators allege was used to flee the scene was not found during the Oakville search Wednesday, Bangild said. Investigators are still looking for it.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
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