Police make arrest in rash of vehicle thefts from underground garages in Mississauga

Gurjeet Singh Virk is wanted on 22 charges in relation to an auto theft investigation (Peel Regional Police.)

A man has been arrested and is facing dozens of charges after a series of vehicle thefts in Mississauga in underground parking garages.

In May, Peel Regional Police officers launched an investigation dubbed ‘Project Taillight” in connection with multiple vehicle thefts and attempted vehicle thefts in underground parking garages in the Huronontario Street and Burnhamthorpe Road East area.

The investigation used video surveillance, automated licence plate recognition, body-worn camera footage and community outreach to identify suspects.

Officers later executed search warrants at residences in Mississauga and Erin, Ont., where they seized key fobs, key-programming devices, vehicle-related documents, several cellphones and $1,465 in cash, according to a news release issued Monday.

One suspect was arrested as a result.

Police say 21-year-old Prince, of Mississauga, has been charged with 22 offences, including breach of a release order, seven counts of theft of a motor vehicle, five counts of possession of break-in instruments, five counts of mischief over $5,000, theft over $5,000, two counts of theft under $5,000 and fraud under $5,000.

The charges have not been tested in court.

Police have also issued a warrant for the arrest of Gurjeet Singh Virk, 23, who is wanted in connection with 22 related criminal offences.

He is described as a South Asian man standing five-foot-ten in height with a medium build, short curly black hair and brown eyes.