Police charge three Punjabi men with 83 vehicle-theft related charges

The York Regional Peel Police said on Wednesday that it has recovered several stolen vehicles worth over $2.8 million dollars, and charged three men with 83 total charges.

The accused – Ranvir Saggi, Jasman Pannu and Kuljeet Singh Sivia – face charges including possession of automobile master key, theft of motor vehicle, possession of break in instruments and trafficking in property obtained by crime.

“Investigators identified three suspects and executed eight search warrants. Thirty-one stolen vehicles were recovered valued at 2.8 million dollars,” police said.

The investigation was a partnership between York Regional Police Auto Cargo Theft Unit, Peel Regional Police and the Ontario Provincial Police.

In addition to stolen vehicles, officers also seized $30,000 dollars in cash, police scanner devices, key re-programmers and more than 100 master keys. Over 80 charges were laid by York Regional Police and an additional 80 charges were laid by Peel Regional Police against the accuse.

One of the accused men was out on bail for vehicle theft-related charges, police said.

In July, police across the Greater Toronto Area collaborated in a project called “Big Rig” to dismantle a vehicle-theft ring – arresting 15 people and laying 73 charges, recovering $9.24 million in stolen property. All 15 arrested were of Punjabi origin.

Rahat Sandhu