An investigation that began last November, has led to the arrest of five men in connection with a car-theft ring operating in the West Island.
The men, aged between 19 and 34, were arrested April 18, as police executed four search warrants.
Marc-Olivier Delisle, 25, Mickael Brilo-Martin, 20, Christian Gaumont, 34, Esteban Cantos-Lepage, 25, and Jeremy Dumontier, 19, appeared in court last week and were charged with theft, handling stolen goods and conspiracy.
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During the raids, Montreal police seized cellphones, cash, 34 grams of cannabis, key cutting tools, stolen licence plates, a locksmith tool known as a “slim jim,” as well as several documents from stolen cars.
Montreal police said the thefts mostly took place in hotel parking lots located near Montreal’s Pierre-Elliot Trudeau Airport, due to the proximity of a network of highways.
Officers credit the public with providing information on the investigation.
Police recommend the following tips to help cut down on car thefts:
- Park your vehicle in a well-lit space
- Always look your doors and close your windows even if you’re only leaving your vehicle for a short time
- Have the windows and major components of your vehicle etched
- Don’t leave documents with your address in your vehicle to avoid possible theft in your residence
- Have an immobilizer, a steering wheel lock, an alarm system and a tracking system installed
- Don’t leave a running vehicle unattended