Reckless thieves have increased

Be careful if you feel like leaving your Jeep Wrangler in an underground parking lot in downtown Montreal, the “playground” of a network of youths suspected of committing numerous car thefts in the city center.

The procedure was outlined last fall in an investigation into the release of one of the alleged thieves, Mohamed Farag.

The man, aged in his twenties, was involved in a series of vehicle theft incidents between July 31 and August 2.

Last summer, just before 2 a.m., Mr. Farag was spotted in a Hyundai Elantra. He was then with four accomplices roaming around an underground parking lot not far from Complex Desjardins looking for vehicles to steal.

At least that's what Mylene Lavigne from the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) explains.

According to a police official, the group roamed underground parking lots in the city center looking for a Jeep Rubicon, Ram 150 or Jeep Wrangler.

“First there's the recognition phase, and then [ils] He returned a few minutes or a few hours later to seize the coveted vehicles,” explained Detective Sergeant during the hearing on the release of the young suspect.

The Hyundai Elantra vehicle, according to a police officer, has been seen in several vehicle theft cases. The car belonged to the father of one of the suspects.

Dangerous behaviors

It seems that five robbers continued their activities on August 2. They targeted a gray Jeep Wrangler in the underground parking lot of Complex Desjardins. But they surprised the owners, a couple. “The complainants come and confront them,” continues Detective Sgt. As they left, a Hyundai Elantra driven by one of the suspects sped off. He hit one of the jeep owners and injured his hands.

The same band of robbers was the subject of another police intervention a few weeks later. During this time, Mr. Farag was allegedly driving a Wrangler with the top open. After him came BMW. SPVM patrol officers chased them and arrested the two accused. The stolen Wrangler fled the scene.

According to our sources, police officers are increasingly facing dangerous behavior from car thieves. “We are talking about a police chase, but also about dangerous driving when a suspect flees in a stolen vehicle,” explains a source not authorized to speak to the media.

Mohamed Farag and his accomplices will be arrested in the late summer of 2023. During the operation police seized several tools used to program the blank keys. One of the devices says “Wrangler 2018 to 2021”.

Mohamed Farag was released shortly after his arrest, promising not to communicate with certain people. He was in a treatment home as one of his conditions before being deported. He is currently being held for violating his conditions.