NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Investigators with the York Regional Police Integrated Property Crime Task Force, working with the Crime Reduction Unit at the West Shore Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), have arrested and charged nine people believed to be part of an organized crime group suspected in numerous thefts and the trafficking of stolen items across Canada.
On Tuesday, July, 14, 2020, officers with the RCMP contacted York Regional Police for assistance in a parallel investigation involving the same suspects who reside in the City of Markham.
Through the investigations, officers learned that suspects had been committing thefts in areas including British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, then were shipping the stolen items back to their main location in Markham.
Suspects were monitored and observed attending a residence on Havagal Crescent, where stolen merchandise, including perfume and cosmetics, was loaded into shipping boxes.
Officers identified several locations, including residences and storage facilities connected to the suspects. Search warrants were executed and more than $250,000 in stolen property was recovered, including cosmetics, perfume, health-care products, smoke alarms, electric hand tools and many other items. More than $67,000 in cash was also seized.
Charged:
• Alin Lautaru, 31, of the City of Markham
• Alina Lautaru, 40, of the City of Markham
• Mirela Lautaru, 27, of the City of Markham
• Ionut Lautaru, 22, of the City of Markham
• Ionut Gheorghe, 28, of the City of Markham
• Maria Iamandita, 29, of the City of Markham
• Felicia Ozun, 31, of the City of Markham
• Gabriel Sandu, 35, of the City of Markham
• Claudia Sandu, 39, of the City of Markham
• Ali Asjad, 35, Town of Milton
• Hussan Asjad, 26, Town of Milton
• Nosheen Asjad, 32, Town of Milton
• Syed Bukhari, 34, Town of Milton
Charges:
• Participation in a criminal organization
• Trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Financial and Organized Property Crimes Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7223 or 7449, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or leave an anonymous tip online.
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