The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has arrested eight suspects in an auto theft investigation.
Labelled as Project Mulligan, it dove into an increase in high end auto thefts from hotel lots in Oakville and Burlington throughout the fall of 2024. In response to these thefts’ members of the HRPS Organized Crime Unit initiated a coordinated investigation and identified an organized group of auto thieves that had been primarily operating within Halton and Peel Regions.
As the investigation progressed detectives were able to utilize a variety of investigative techniques to identify areas where the stolen vehicles were left to “cool off”, in addition to locations where the vehicles were stored, loaded and transferred to various shipping points throughout the Greater Toronto Area and Montreal.
On Thursday, February 20th, the HRPS Organized Crime Unit, with the assistance of the HRPS Drug and 2 District Street Crime Units, executed 10 Criminal Code search warrants on vehicles, storage facilities and residences across the GTA. As a result of the search warrants further items of evidentiary value were recovered which included auto theft tools, reprogramming kits and a re-vinned BMW.
Investigators believe the auto theft crew to be responsible for over 75 vehicle thefts since September 2024.
To date, the investigation has located and recovered 18 of these stolen vehicles, two having been located inside shipping containers at the Port of Montreal.
As a result of the investigation the following individuals have been arrested and charged:
29-year-old Luis Bello-Reyes of Etobicoke:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 (16 Counts)
- Theft of Motor Vehicle (14 Counts)
- Trafficking Stolen Property
- Fail to Comply with Undertaking
- Possession of Electronic Device for the Purpose of Committing Motor Vehicle Theft
- Possess Break and Enter Tools
25-year-old Amir Habibzai of Mississauga:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 (11 Counts)
- Theft of Motor Vehicle (10 Counts)
- Trafficking Stolen Property
- Fail to Comply with Undertaking
22-year-old Furkan Ari of Toronto:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 (7 Counts)
- Theft of Motor Vehicle (6 Counts)
34-year-old Dmytro Aref’yev of Montreal, Quebec:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
- Fraudulent Use of Credit Card
- Possession of Instruments for Forgery
- Possess Counterfeit Mark
- Possess Identity Documents
30-year-old Yekta Isik of Montreal, Quebec:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
- Fraudulent Use of Credit Card
- Possession of Instruments for Forgery
- Possess Counterfeit Mark
- Possess Identity Documents
28-year-old Tanbir Islam of Montreal, Quebec:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
- Fraudulent Use of Credit Card
- Possession of Instruments for Forgery
- Possess Counterfeit Mark
- Possess Identity Documents
- Fail to Comply – Being on a Release Order
25-year-old Fatima Salame of Montreal, Quebec:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
- Fraudulent Use of Credit Card
- Possession of Instruments for Forgery
- Possess Counterfeit Mark
- Possess Identity Documents
30-year-old Pierre Bytion of Toronto:
- Fail to Comply with Undertaking
Of note, at the time of arrest Bello-Reyes, Habibzai, and Bytion were all on prior forms of release for similar criminal offences.
Watch a supporting video here.
All accused were held in custody pending their respective bail hearings in Milton.
Upon investigative review both Luis Bello-Reyes and Amir Habibzai have been denied bail and will remain in custody while they await trial.
Image provided by the HRPS
Auto theft is often undertaken by organized criminal elements who utilize the proceeds to fund their criminal enterprises. Investigation into this organized auto theft crew is continuing and additional charges may be pending.
“The rise in Incidents of auto theft and its related crimes is of utmost concern and remains a top priority of the Halton Regional Police Service,” says Superintendent Dave Stewart, Regional Investigative Services. “Auto thieves continue to incorporate a variety of techniques to commit these thefts while engaging in varying strategies to avoid detection and arrest. This most recent investigation is an example of our commitment to combatting these organized criminal elements and holding those responsible accountable.”
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact investigators with the Organized Crime Unit at 905-825-4777 ext. 7006.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at [http://1-800-222-8477%20(tips)/]1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
