Thefts of valuable car part lead to two arrests and warrant for Mississauga man
Published April 3, 2023 at 10:07 am
Two men are facing multiple charges and a Mississauga man is being hunted by police after a valuable car part that can net thieves big money was stolen from several vehicles in the east end of the city.
Peel Regional Police say the thefts took place in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 25 when several men were spotted on a security camera stealing catalytic converters from vehicles in the Tomken and Kamato Rds. area of Mississauga, just north of Matheson Blvd. E.
Patrol officers and investigators with the 12 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau responded to the scene and spotted a suspect vehicle fleeing the area.
With help from a police dog, officers arrested two men a short time later. A third man is now being sought on an arrest warrant in connection with the thefts.
Police say they also recovered the stolen car parts.
Catalytic converters, which are part of a vehicle’s exhaust system that reduces polluting emissions, have been a popular target of thieves in Mississauga and Brampton, and across Canada and the U.S. in recent years.
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The part is made of precious metals like palladium, platinum and rhodium, which makes it especially valuable to thieves, and catalytic converters are relatively easy to remove from cars in about a minute.
Photo shows a vehicle’s catalytic converter, which can net thieves big money on the black market.
Emerick Long-Lalonde, 25, of Innisfil, and Samuel Pelletier, 24, of Quebec, are each charged with three counts of theft over $5,000, three counts mischief over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime and obstructing a peace officer.
They appeared in Brampton court last week.
Meanwhile, investigators are seeking a Mississauga man on an arrest warrant.
Charles Savoie Tessier, 25, is being sought on charges of possession of property obtained by crime (six counts), and three counts each of theft over $5,000 and mischief over $5,000 in addition to several other charges.
Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 905-453-2121, ext. 1233, or call Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to leave an anonymous tip.
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