Tagged for car theft

It wasn’t just the vehicle they were driving around in. The licence plate was also stolen.

Five youths face several charges after leading police on a chase, on Monday of the long August weekend. The Hawkesbury OPP detachment received a call on Aug. 1st, from a patrol officer, about a possible stolen vehicle which also had a set of stolen licence plates.

Const. Stéphanie Fortin-Provost first noticed the erratic driving pattern of the suspect vehicle, which suggested that the driver might be impaired. When she turned on her patrol car’s flashing roof lights, the vehicle sped off, clocking speeds up to 130 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone.

Police broke off pursuit under the circumstances as the suspect vehicle’s speed and driving pattern created a risk for any passengers inside and also a public safety hazard for anyone else encountering it on the road. Later that night, the vehicle was spotted turning on to a dead-end street.

The five occupants, all youths ranging in age from 14 to 17, abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. They were caught later on, still in the vicinity, and charged. Their names are withheld under the terms of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

They all face charges of possession of stolen property, under a value of $5000. Two are also charged with failure to comply with previous release conditions. One is also charged with attempting to escape police pursuit and with dangerous driving. They are scheduled to attend provincial youth court in L’Orignal, later in August.