Halton Regional Police have made a pair of arrests and laid multiple charges after a “re-vinning” investigation in Oakville.
On Wednesday, officers with the Halton Regional Police Service's 2 District (Oakville) auto team executed search warrants in connection with an auto theft investigation.
As part of the warrants, a re-vinned 2021 Ford Explorer was recovered, police say. It was the fourth stolen vehicle recovered during the four-month long investigation, with total value of the vehicles being approximately $250,000.
Police say the investigation determined that the accused was registering vehicles using fictitious or cloned VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers) with the MTO.
Bassam Abualkhair, 42, of Oakville was arrested and charged with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 (five counts)
- Tampering with Vehicle Identification Number (two counts)
- Possession of a counterfeit mark (two counts)
- Possession of a forged document (three counts)
- Possession of automobile master key (two counts)
- Fraud over $5,000
Rawan Iskandarani, 39, of Oakville was also arrested and charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Both were released from custody pending a court appearance.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777, ext. 2216.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
