STOLEN VEHICLE CHARGES

April 3, 2025 · 0 Comments

Members of the Caledon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have recovered a stolen vehicle identified by ALPR alerts and laid charges against two individuals.

“On March 25, 2025, a stolen vehicle was identified by the police vehicle’s Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) system,” say Police. “Just after 2:00 p.m., it led officers to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle in the area of Innis Lake Road and Atchison Drive in Caledon East. The driver and passenger were placed under arrest.”

As a result of the investigation, Varindersingh Jobanpreetsingh, 23, of Brampton, and Sukhpreet Singh, 21, of Caledon, were both charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5000.

The accused are scheduled to attend the Ontario Court of Justice in Orangeville on April 24, 2025, to answer to their charge.

The charges have not been proven.

Over the last few years, there has been a surge in vehicle crime; auto thefts being the most prevalent. Members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activity by calling 1-888-310-1122 or 9-1-1 in case of an emergency. You can also provide information anonymously by contacting Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at peelcrimestoppers.ca. When you contact Crime Stoppers, you stay anonymous, and you never have to testify.

If you observed someone attempting to steal your vehicle, do not confront them. Call 9-1-1 immediately and remain in a place of safety. Provide information to police such as your vehicle make, model, year and colour, any tracking devices associated to the vehicle as well as the VIN number.

If possible, share physical descriptions of the suspects and anything else that was observed, such as other vehicles in the area at the time of the theft. If you have a tracker installed in your vehicle, do not follow the suspects as doing so may pose a threat to your safety. Instead, relay the whereabouts of your vehicle to police.

STOLEN VEHICLES RECOVERED

Members of the Caledon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have recovered two stolen vehicles and charged two individuals.

“On March 27, 2025, a stolen vehicle investigation led officers to a residence on Old School Road, in the Town of Caledon,” say Police. “The Caledon OPP Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) was engaged to assist.”

A search warrant was authored and executed on the same day and the following items were seized:

Stolen 2024 Range Rover;

Stolen 2017 Nissan M3S;

A vehicle reprogramming computer.

Jagveer Singh, 21, and Kulwinder Singh, 24, both of Caledon, were charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5000.

The accused are scheduled to attend the Ontario Court of Justice in Orangeville on May 1, 2025, to answer to their charge.

The charges have not been proven.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Caledon OPP at 1-888-310-1122. You can also provide information anonymously by contacting Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at https://peelcrimestoppers.ca. When you contact Crime Stoppers, you stay anonymous, and you never have to testify.

For tips on preventing auto theft, visit https://opp.ca/autotheft.

IMPAIRED CHARGES

Members of the Caledon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged the driver of what was reported as a suspicious vehicle with impaired operation.

“On March 30, 2025, just before 4:00 a.m., officers responded to a suspicious vehicle on Old Church Road, near Highway 50,” say Police. “The vehicle was located. During the interaction, the officer formed grounds that the driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol, leading to the driver’s arrest.”

As a result of the investigation, Carlos Castro Paguaga, 23, of Tottenham, was charged with:

Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus).

The accused is scheduled to attend the Ontario Court of Justice in Orangeville on April 17, 2025, to answer to the charge.

The charge has not been proven.

The driver’s licence was also suspended for 90 days, and the vehicle impounded for seven.

The OPP remains committed to ensuring Ontario roads are safe from impaired drivers.

If you suspect that someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, it is important to call 9-1-1 to report it. You can also provide information anonymously by contacting Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at peelcrimestoppers.ca. When you contact Crime Stoppers, you stay anonymous, and you never have to testify.

For more information about the penalties of driving impaired, visit: /www.ontario.ca/page/impaired-driving.

“SMISHING” WARNING

Cybercriminals are ramping up text-based scams to steal personal and banking information. This tactic, known as “smishing”, a combination of “SMS” (short message service) and phishing, relies on deceptive text messages to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or calling fraudulent numbers.

“Smishing messages often appear to come from financial institutions, courier companies, online retailers or government agencies,” say Police. “Clicking on these links can lead to identity theft, financial fraud or malware being installed on your device. Examples of smishing attempts are available in the additional content section to help Ontarians recognize these scams.”

In 2024, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) received almost 9,500 reports of identity fraud and over 3,900 reports of personal information theft.

How to Protect Yourself from Smishing Scams:

Do not click on links, reply to messages or call numbers from unknown senders;

Report suspicious texts by forwarding them to 7726 (SPAM);

Delete all suspicious messages immediately;

Keep your smartphone secure by updating your operating system and security software;

Use multi-factor authentication for banking, social media and other sensitive accounts;

Verify any unexpected text messages by checking official websites or contacting organizations directly.

For more information on fraud prevention, visit opp.ca and sfo.opp.ca.

If you suspect fraudulent activity or have been a victim of fraud, report it immediately to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

CRYPTO SCAM WARNING

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Cyber-Enabled Fraud Team (CEFT) is warning the public about the risks of engaging private cryptocurrency tracing companies to recover funds lost to cyber-enabled fraud due to the increase of recovery scams.

“Some cryptocurrency tracing companies are not legitimate and target individuals who have already been victims of fraud, claiming they will be able to help get their money back. They may ask for payment for their services, resulting in further losses,” say Police.

“While some legitimate companies do provide cryptocurrency tracing services, it’s important to understand their limitations. These companies lack the legal authority to freeze or seize funds. Reports generated by some of these companies may not be suitable in court or at trial. Victims may face high fees for reports that ultimately direct them to seek help from law enforcement. These reports can also include inaccuracies, errors, or oversimplifications.

“It is recommended to always exercise caution and ensure thorough research before engaging in these services.”

If you’ve been a victim of cyber-enabled fraud, your first step is to report it to your local police service. The police have access to reliable cryptocurrency tracing tools designed for investigative purposes. Police must rely on law enforcement generated reports for conducting investigations.

How to Protect Yourself:

Beware of unexpected messages or calls. Individuals who commit fraud often reach out to victims who have publicly shared their cryptocurrency losses online or on social media platforms.

Be cautious of individuals who pressure you into acting quickly to recover lost cryptocurrency and who demand upfront fees.

Don’t provide anyone with sensitive information such as your wallet’s private key or seed phrase.

Be aware that some cryptocurrency tracing services appear as legitimate companies but provide false reports.

For more information on fraud prevention, visit opp.ca/fraud and sfo.opp.ca.

If you suspect fraudulent activity or have been a victim of fraud, report it immediately to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online via the Fraud Reporting System.