One teen and two adults arrested for possession of vehicle theft tools 

Sophie Demers 

On May 30 at approximately 2:30 in the morning, Gatineau police officers intercepted a vehicle on Boulevard Maloney East. The vehicle was occupied by three individuals who were in possession of a variety of items associated with vehicle theft. The vehicle was traveling at low speed and appeared to be scouting the surrounding area. 

There were three male individuals in the car, aged 16, 20 and 21. Upon searching the car, police discovered programmable keys, tablets to program keys, cables to access the on-board computer, and several burglary tools. The individuals had records for similar offenses.

All three individuals were transported to the police station for questioning. The two adult men will remain detained while the teenager was released with the promise to appear. 

The suspects face charges of breach of order, conspiracy, and possession of burglary tools. The charges have been submitted to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP). The investigation is ongoing. 

Vehicle theft has significantly increased in Gatineau over the past few years. In 2020, there were 179 reported cases and, in 2021, there were 142 cases. Numbers jumped up to 339 cases in 2022 and 396 cases were reported last year. So far this year, there have been 152 reported vehicle theft cases from January to May 31. Spokesperson for the Gatineau Police Andrée East said that, compared to the same period last year, there have been 7% fewer reports this year. 

Gatineau police encourage residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity in their neighbourhood. Car thieves usually scour the area before stealing the vehicle. Authorities advise residents to park vehicles in a well-lit area with video surveillance to deter thieves or at least help investigators in the event of theft. 

Police encourage citizens to consider anti-theft technology such as a steering wheel anti-theft device, an on-board diagnostic protector, or a tracking or anti-theft system independent of the vehicle.