Peel police have arrested an 18-year-old woman in connection with a brazen car theft in Mississauga earlier this month, where a man was struck with the stolen vehicle before the suspect fled.
Police said the incident happened on Sept. 6 around 2 p.m. near Winston Churchill and Eglinton Avenue.
The woman visited the victim’s residence after responding to an AutoTrader advertisement, police said in a news release Friday.
Earlier this week, police released a security camera video showing a woman reversing rapidly over the victim while viewing his Porsche Cayenne, before fleeing with the stolen vehicle.
The woman turned herself into police on Thursday, the news release said. She was held in custody before a bail hearing scheduled for Friday.
Police said the Porsche has been recovered.
Peel police have made an arrest in connection with a car theft that occurred in Mississauga earlier this month, where they say a man was struck with the stolen vehicle before the suspect fled. CBC’s Tyler Cheese has the details.
The 18-year-old has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation causing bodily harm and failure to remain after an accident causing bodily harm.
The accused has also been charged for driving without a licence, police said.
Police said she has previously been charged with other fraud-related offences in Peel Region and is wanted by other police services in the Greater Toronto Area for separate investigations.
They added they anticipate making additional arrests in this auto theft investigation.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact investigators or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.
Police advise using safety zones for online purchases
In Friday’s news release, Peel police advised people to be vigilant when selling items online.
They also encouraged people to use designated parking spaces at police divisions, which are monitored by security cameras, when buying, selling or trading property online.
The parking spaces, called Buy and Sell Safe Exchange Zones, aim to “reduce crime by giving people a safer place to meet when making transactions with strangers,” according to the Peel police website.
“Whether you’re buying or selling collectibles, including vehicles, there are violent crimes going up,” said Peel police Const. Moulika Sharma.
“We want our community to utilize the safe place to make sure that there is no crime, and for their safety as well.”
There are three designated safe zones in Mississauga and two zones in Brampton.
Conduct transactions online, not in cash: police
Sharma said people are advised to conduct transactions during the day and to inform a family member or friend about where you’re going beforehand.
As well, people are advised to exchange money through online transactions, rather than cash, as e-transfers are easier for police to track, Sharma said.
At an auto-theft summit this March, Peel Region was dubbed the “auto theft capital of Canada.”
In an email to CBC News on Friday, a spokesperson for AutoTrader said it was aware of the alleged auto theft in Mississauga.
“This is a concern we take seriously and [we] are committed to supporting local law enforcement as needed with their investigation,” the email says.
The most recent statistics from Peel police show there were 3,316 vehicles stolen from Jan. 1 to May 31, down from 3,580 during the same time period in 2023. Last year, the region saw 8,322 thefts in total.
Safety tips from AutoTrader and Peel police
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Conduct transactions during the day in public locations.
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Verify identifies before meeting in-person, such as by requesting proof of a valid-driver’s licence.
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Inform a family member or friend about where you’re going for an in-person meeting.
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Always trust your instincts when interacting with a potential buyer or a seller.