Three men have been arrested following an ongoing vehicle theft investigation in Richmond Hill.
Police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot at Bloomington Road and Highway 404 on Thursday, Jan. 26 at about 2:20 a.m., York Regional Police said.
Officers were told that three male suspects had abandoned a black Dodge Ram truck in the parking lot and left the area in another black Dodge Ram. While police were investigating the suspicious vehicle, the suspects returned to the parking lot.
The suspects left the truck and fled the area on foot, police said.
Both trucks were stolen, police said.
Officers and the canine unit were able to locate the suspects, who now face multiple charges.
The suspects remain in custody and the investigation is ongoing, according to police.
Ronald George, 53, of Vaughan, Jesse Brooks, 32, of Richmond Hill, and Austin MacDonald, 32, of Toronto are charged with:
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 x2
• Escape lawful custody
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking - opioid
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000 (George only)
• Fail to comply with court order (Brooks only)
• Breach of probation (MacDonald only).
To prevent the theft of your vehicle, keep the doors locked and do not leave keys inside. If possible, park your vehicle in a locked garage, as the majority of the vehicles are stolen from driveways. For more tips, visit yrp.ca crime prevention.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7250 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online.
