A resident of Toronto claims to have received a photograph from a private investigator, allegedly taken in a pre-owned car dealership in the United Arab Emirates. The image indicates the presence of a 2022 GMC Yukon XL, which the man asserts was stolen from his residence. In the picture, the mentioned vehicle is seen parked alongside other GMC and Chevrolet trucks. The individual submitted the photograph as evidence.
In a disturbing turn of events, a Toronto resident, identified only as Andrew to protect his safety, found himself a victim of auto theft for the second time in a year. His 2022 GMC Yukon XL disappeared from his driveway, prompting him to employ unconventional means to track down his stolen vehicle. Andrew had discreetly placed Apple AirTags in his SUV after the first theft, hoping to recover it if lightning struck twice.
Utilizing the AirTags' location data, Andrew traced his SUV's journey from a nearby rail yard in Toronto to the Port of Montreal and, astonishingly, all the way to a used car lot in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). Frustrated by the lack of assistance from local authorities, he hired a private investigator and reached out to Interpol, all to no avail.
The severity of the situation prompted CBC News to conceal Andrew's full identity, reflecting the genuine fear of reprisals against him and his family. This incident sheds light on a nefarious overseas shipping route exploited by criminals amid Canada's rising auto theft crisis.
After discovering the theft, Andrew immediately notified the police, but their response was slow. The AirTags pinged across the Greater Toronto Area, leading authorities to a rail yard. Despite pinpointing the location, local police claimed they lacked the authority to open containers, leaving Andrew helpless as his SUV vanished on a train bound for Montreal and, subsequently, overseas.
The tracking saga continued as the AirTags signaled from various locations in eastern Ontario, the Port of Montreal, and eventually surfaced in Antwerp, Belgium, before reaching a port near Dubai, U.A.E., 11,000 kilometers away. Andrew's father, a retired lawyer, undertook the case, hiring a U.A.E.-based private investigator who discovered the stolen SUV in a used car lot, matching the VIN and specifications.
While the Toronto Police Service stated that the case remains active, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) declined to comment on Andrew's situation. The CBSA reported a 34% increase in intercepted stolen vehicles in 2023, emphasizing the growing challenge law enforcement faces.
Senior Ontario Provincial Police Detective Scott Wade expressed concern over the "unusual" circumstances, highlighting the commonality of criminals transporting stolen vehicles in containers for export to lucrative markets like the Middle East, Europe, or northern Africa.
In an interview, Wade cautioned against individuals attempting to reclaim stolen vehicles independently, urging victims to contact law enforcement first. Andrew, determined to recover his SUV, has approached Emirati police and Interpol, emphasizing the pressing need to address the alarming trend of stolen vehicles being trafficked across international borders.
