Technology foils attempt at car insurance fraud in Sudbury, police say

Police in Greater Sudbury received a report from the man March 16 that his car had been stolen from a parking lot on Barrydowne Road while he was inside a business.

A 21-year-old man in Greater Sudbury has been charged with public mischief in a case that police believe was an attempt at car insurance fraud.

Police received a report from the man March 16 that his car had been stolen from a parking lot on Barrydowne Road while he was inside a business.

“Officers determined that the vehicle was equipped with a tracking device and contacted the service provider to determine the current location of the vehicle,” police said in a news release Tuesday.

Actually in southern Ontario

“Upon speaking with the service provider, officers were informed that the vehicle was in southern Ontario and had been there for approximately two weeks.”

Further investigation led officers to conclude the owner was aware of the location of the vehicle and the false report of it being stolen was an attempt “to commit insurance fraud,” police said.

“Officers notified the insurance provider of the false claim.”

The suspect was arrested March 17 and charged with public mischief, a Criminal Code offence. He was released and has a court date of April 16 in Sudbury.