{"id":19755,"date":"2025-07-24T05:27:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T05:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/19755\/"},"modified":"2025-07-24T05:27:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T05:27:13","slug":"rcmp-bust-organized-crime-vehicle-theft-ring-that-exploited-alberta-registry-loophole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/19755\/","title":{"rendered":"RCMP bust organized crime vehicle theft ring that exploited Alberta registry loophole"},"content":{"rendered":"

RCMP have busted an organized crime vehicle theft ring that has also revealed a loophole in Alberta\u2019s registry system.<\/p>\n

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The months-long investigation led to seven people facing nearly 100 criminal charges, with Alberta RCMP<\/a> saying they\u2019ve recovered approximately $1.9 million in stolen vehicles, and identifying more than 150 others potentially linked to the scheme.<\/p>\n

The Alberta RCMP Auto Theft<\/a> Unit began investigating in December 2024 and uncovered a complex fraud operation that exploited the Alberta Registries\u2019 third-party authorization system, which allows another person to register a vehicle in someone else\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

According to the RCMP, the suspects steal vehicles and register them under the names of unsuspecting people using fraudulent vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and forged authorization forms, allowing the criminals to disguise stolen vehicles as legitimate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese fraudulent VINs were then used to conceal stolen vehicles. The investigation to date has resulted in the recovery of vehicles in various parts of the country and overseas,\u201d said Staff Sgt. Luke Halvorson with the Alberta RCMP community safety unit.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe are suspecting there\u2019s upwards of 130 vehicles that are fraudulent VINs registered through the Alberta registries. We\u2019ve recovered six so far and are working to recover more and identify them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Halvorson said vehicles have been recovered around Alberta, as well as in Ontario and the Northwest Territories. One was also confirmed to have been shipped overseas, but police believe more have left Canada.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s an international component to it,\u201d Halvorson said.<\/p>\n

Insurance Bureau of Canada vice-president Aaron Sutherland said only a handful have been recovered because it\u2019s highly likely many of the stolen vehicles have been shipped overseas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why this is such a lucrative avenue for car thieves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really good at checking containers coming into the country to make everything\u2019s legitimate on that side but we check far too few containers heading out of our ports in places like Vancouver, Montreal and the east coast.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sutherland said the industry has been calling on provinces for a long time to crack down on who can register vehicles and VINs.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe more open that it is, as it is in Alberta today, the easier it is for for thefts and thieves to create fake bills of sale, fake insurance policies and make fake insurance claims,\u201d Sutherland said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes theft all too appealing and it\u2019s Albertans that are the ones that are caught in the lurch.\u201d<\/p>\n

This new tactic exploiting VINs is a change from what police typically see, in which vehicles are stolen, used to commit other crimes, and then ditched or recovered during an arrest.<\/p>\n

RCMP said in some cases, the criminals then insure the re-numbered vehicle to use themselves, sell it to an innocent person, or commit insurance fraud.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey essentially steal a $80,000 vehicle, insure it, say it\u2019s stolen, they still have the $80,000 vehicle and $80,000,\u201d Halvorson said.<\/p>\n

Halvorson said by and large, the vehicles aren\u2019t going to chop shops.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMost of the vehicles are still being used \u2014 they\u2019re not parting them out \u2014 they\u2019re wholesale,\u201d Halvorson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust changing the VIN and either they\u2019re driving them, criminal associates driving them or an unsuspecting person is driving them. They would have been registered in Alberta, they may not still be in Alberta.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luxury vehicles and high-end models that are only a year or two old are the main target, RCMP said, including top of the line pickup trucks, Land Rovers and Toyotas.<\/p>\n

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\u201cReally, anything that they can steal, they\u2019re doing that, and then they\u2019re working to re-VIN them and legitimize that,\u201d Halvorson said.<\/p>\n

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Sutherland said as provinces like Ontario and Quebec have made changes to cut down on auto theft, criminal patterns in Alberta have changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re seeing organized crime migrating westward in search of easy targets and here in Alberta, it\u2019s all too easy to come up with a fake vehicle identification number and register that vehicle as though it\u2019s legitimate,\u201d Sutherland said.<\/p>\n

The IBC says the cost of auto theft has gone up 65 per cent in three years, and has cost Albertans over a $100 million a year in claims.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere it hits most \u2014 it\u2019s Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray. In those areas, it\u2019s up as high as 80 per cent in terms of how much it\u2019s increased, just in the last few years,\u201d Sutherland said.<\/p>\n

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RCMP did note as auto technology has advanced, so too have criminal tactics.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is getting harder to steal cars. You need higher levels of tech. So old cars where you can just use a screwdriver or a nail file, go to the junkyard \u2014 there\u2019s less of those to steal and then criminals have to become more sophisticated,\u201d Halvorson said.<\/p>\n

RCMP said the vehicles are not being taken via violent means such as carjacking. Instead, the criminals are stealing keys, spoofing fobs or using other electronic technology to get into and start the vehicle.<\/p>\n

RCMP said owners need to be mindful and protect their property.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlways keep your keys with you, don\u2019t leave them in the vehicle,\u201d Halvorson said.<\/p>\n

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He also suggests parking in a garage or well-lit-area, using a steering wheel lock, installing a third-party tracking system on your vehicle and keeping an eye out for suspicious activity in your neighbourhood.<\/p>\n

So how can you find out if a stolen vehicle has been registered under your name? People who have had their identity stolen are at greatest risk.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf you have identity theft problems or were the victim of identity theft or lost your licence or it was stolen, then next time you\u2019re at the registrars, you could just ask to check how many vehicles are registered,\u201d Halvorson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey would be able to tell you and then you\u2019d say, \u2018Hey, I don\u2019t own a brand new Porsche,\u2019 and then maybe we can start an investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since the beginning of the investigation, RCMP said its auto theft unit has recovered approximately $1.9 million in stolen vehicles and are working to find more than 150 other vehicles, with 30 vehicles being linked to the seven people charged in the case.<\/p>\n

RCMP became aware of the VIN scam about a year ago and the formal investigation began in December 2024. It involved multiple search warrants executed across the Edmonton region, with help from the Edmonton Police Service.<\/p>\n

The investigation has drawn attention to vulnerabilities in the vehicle registration system and police allege the accused are likely part of several groups engaging in the VIN tactic.<\/p>\n

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The RCMP said it\u2019s working with Service Alberta to close the loophole. Global News has reached out to the province for more details, but had not heard back as of publishing.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tA SUV that was stolen as part of the auto re-VIN theft crime ring busted by the Alberta RCMP.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tAlberta RCMP\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Halvorson did note auto theft has gone down over the past four years in Alberta, with the largest drop this year \u2014 an 18-per cent decline compared to 2022, which Halvorson said equated to nearly 1,000 fewer vehicles stolen.<\/p>\n

RCMP have laid 99 charges against seven people: four of whom have been arrested, and three who are wanted on warrants.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a named gang, but we believe they were acting in concert with three more people and we believe that that to be a criminal organization,\u201d Halvorson said.<\/p>\n

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Among the charges laid, Edmonton resident Mohamed Hajar, 40, faces 46 criminal charges. Those include fraud, uttering forged documents, illegal possession of identity documents, and participation in a criminal organization.<\/p>\n

Hajar is also charged with recruitment for a criminal organization and drug trafficking. RCMP allege he is the leader of the criminal group.<\/p>\n

Three other people from Edmonton are also facing charges:<\/p>\n

Ryan Garford, 40, is charged with 28 counts, including uttering forged documents and fraud.<\/p>\n

Sean Broyles, 37, is charged with seven counts of uttering forged documents.<\/p>\n

Yuvraj Dhillon, 22, is charged with fraud over $5,000 and trafficking in property obtained by crime.<\/p>\n

All four are scheduled to appear at the Edmonton courthouse on July 29.<\/p>\n

Three more people are also wanted for a collective 16 counts of uttering forged documents. Warrants have also been issued for Zachary Frazer, 34, of Edmonton, Loranne Smith, 56, of High River and Darlene Noel, 61, also of High River.<\/p>\n

In addition to stolen vehicles, police seized over a kilogram of cocaine, more than 200 OxyContin pills, and close to $10,000 in cash.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tCash, cocaine and other drugs found as part of the Alberta RCMP\u2019s auto re-VIN theft crime investigation.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tAlberta RCMP\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

RCMP officials said 30 of the stolen vehicles have already been directly linked to the individuals charged, with efforts continuing to track down more than 120 others across Canada and internationally.<\/p>\n

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