Car thieves targeted Ontario hotel parking lots; eight people arrested

Halton Regional Police (HRPS) say they have busted a car theft ring that went after vehicles parked in hotel lots.

Eight people have been arrested and 90 charges have been laid in the investigation dubbed Project Mulligan.

Investigators believe the auto theft crew is responsible for over 75 vehicle thefts since September of 2024.

To date, the investigation has located and recovered 18 of these stolen vehicles, two having been found inside shipping containers at the Port of Montreal.

Through the fall of last year, police say there had been an increase of stolen vehicles from hotels in Oakville and Burlington.

“In response to these thefts, members of the HRPS Organized Crime Unit initiated a coordinated investigation and identified an organized group of auto thieves that had been primarily operating within Halton and Peel Regions,” police said. “As the investigation progressed, detectives were able to utilize a variety of investigative techniques to identify areas where the stolen vehicles were left to “cool off”, in addition to locations where the vehicles were stored, loaded and transferred to various shipping points throughout the Greater Toronto Area and Montreal.”

Raids were then carried out at 10 locations across the GTA where items such as auto theft tools, reprogramming kits and a stolen vehicle were found.

As a result of the investigation, the following people have been arrested and charged (supporting video can be found HERE):

Luis Bello-Reyes (29) of Etobicoke:

• 16 counts of possession of property obtained by crime Over $5,000
• 14 counts of theft of motor vehicle
• Trafficking stolen property
• Fail to comply with undertaking
• Possession of an electronic device for the purpose of committing motor vehicle theft
• Possess break and enter tools

Amir Habibzai (25) of Mississauga:

• 11 counts of possession of property obtained by crime Over $5,000
• 10 counts theft of motor vehicle
• Trafficking stolen property
• Fail to comply with undertaking

Furkan Ari (22) of Toronto:

• 7 counts possession of property Obtained by crime over $5,000
• Six counts of theft of motor vehicle

Dmytro Aref’yev (34), Yekta Isik (30), Tanbir Islam (28), and Fatima Salame (25), all of Montreal, are charged with:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
• Fraudulent Use of Credit Card
• Possession of Instruments for Forgery
• Possess Counterfeit Mark
• Possess Identity Documents

Pierre Bytion (30) of Toronto: is charged with fail to comply with undertaking,

Police say at the time of arrest Bello-Reyes, Habibzai, and Bytion were all on prior forms of release for similar criminal offences.

All accused were held in custody pending their respective bail hearings in Milton.

Police say the investigation is continuing.

“The rise in incidents of auto theft and its related crimes is of utmost concern and remains a top priority of the Halton Regional Police Service. Auto thieves continue to incorporate a variety of techniques to commit these thefts while engaging in varying strategies to avoid detection and arrest. This most recent investigation is an example of our commitment to combatting these organized criminal elements and holding those responsible accountable,” said Superintendent Dave Stewart, Regional Investigative Services.