Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un are driving around hotel parking lots in a grey Jeep Grand Cherokee on a winter night, searching for cars to steal. They split up, each with their own vehicle, staying connected via the encrypted messaging app Signal.
“Do you guys wanna scout quickly?” Putin texts – each is using a pseudonym that has a political twist.
Trump replies, “Do you want me in Burlington?”
Kim Jong Un mentions he’s hungry. “Just about to eat.”
Later, they make a choice. “I guess the blue one,” Putin decides. They head toward a Lexus SUV parked at Burlington’s Sandman Hotel.
The parking lots of hotels near Pearson airport are common targets for auto thefts.
Steve Russell/
In the GTA and surrounding regions, spending just one night can lead to losing your car forever. Victims often check into hotels for various reasons: attending a child’s soccer game, going to a business meeting nearby, participating in family gatherings, or simply leaving their car while they take a taxi to the airport for vacation. Hotel parking lots are prime spots for auto thefts, especially those close to Pearson International Airport. Nine out of the 50 most frequent car theft locations in Toronto are next to these airport hotels. Since 2020, police have reported over 1,000 thefts at these sites alone – and that’s just in Toronto.
The hotels in the GTA, including many in Halton and Peel Regions, usually feature large parking areas with guests coming and going all hours of the day and night. This makes it hard for hotel security to monitor everything effectively. In May, Halton Regional Police looked into 28 car thefts from hotels in Oakville and arrested two men suspected of being involved.
Detectives from GTA forces say that hotel-related car thefts are a serious issue and recommend drivers park near light posts when possible while also installing anti-theft devices on their vehicles.
An investigation launched in 2024 began when cars were vanishing from hotels across Peel and Halton regions. Police found themselves puzzled by this trend. Halton auto theft detectives took statements from hotel staff as well as frustrated vehicle owners who woke up at their hotels or returned from trips only to find their cars missing. Officers struggled to identify any commonalities among the cases. In instances caught on video footage, thieves shattered the rear window of high-end vehicles before entering them; they would spend about half an hour inside before driving away with them.
Then came January 2025-a breakthrough occurred when detectives reviewing hotel surveillance videos spotted the same dark grey Jeep Grand Cherokee appearing at multiple locations during reported thefts. An alert was issued following this discovery. On Jan. 6, 2025, an officer noticed the Jeep parked on The East Mall in Etobicoke; its license plate turned out to be fake but its visible vehicle identification number indicated it had been stolen months prior. Once police confirmed nobody was watching closely enough, an officer slipped under the vehicle and attached a tracking device-thus beginning their pursuit.
The decision was made by police to build their case through several related thefts by allowing these thieves to continue operating-a controversial approach noted by The Star that has been observed in other recent cases due primarily to public safety risks involved-what if one of those stolen vehicles crashed resulting in casualties? Nevertheless law enforcement proceeded cautiously; Project Mulligan was initiated-a name inspired by golf since most times stolen vehicles ended up parked at Mississauga Golf and Country Club where GPS trackers were removed before moving them elsewhere for some time while keeping watch whether authorities or owners showed up looking for them.
A still image captures thieves surveying a hotel parking lot during an undated court handout photo.
Ontario Court exhibit
While monitoring the Jeep’s movements closely over time helped create profiles on its regular passengers-Reyes (aka Kim Jong Un) turned out be Luis Bello Reyes-a 29-year-old man out on bail after being charged with stealing from another Mississauga hotel previously; Amir Habibzai aged 21 went under “Vladimir Putin,” also on bail tied back into that same incident; there was additionally another man aged 39 called “Trump” alongside yet another named “Crasher” who was merely twenty-two years old.
Each evening’s scouting started off at Shoppers Drug Mart located right next door where they first spotted this infamous Jeep parked; Reyes would pull up here himself behind wheel while others drove different rides with one consistently arriving behind wheels belonging his father’s older Mazda model.
Whenever this group dispersed away from respective vehicles briefly police slipped trackers onto theirs too! After completing planning discussions held within Shoppers premises they’d exit together hopping back again into famous Jeep as detectives poured over Signal conversations revealing both Trump & Habibzai leading operational aspects directing other crew members suggesting which specific establishments should be canvassed plus identifying ideal targets worth stealing.
Photos captured indicate occurrences involving Thieves casing parties operating amid breakdown investigations executed earlier showcasing new sightings leading officers remaining vigilant against such events transpiring!Each evening’s scouting started off at Shoppers Drug Mart located right next door where they first spotted this infamous Jeep parked; Reyes would pull up here himself behind wheel while others drove different rides with one consistently arriving behind wheels belonging his father’s older Mazda model.
Whenever this group dispersed away from respective vehicles briefly police slipped trackers onto theirs too! After completing planning discussions held within Shoppers premises they’d exit together hopping back again into famous Jeep as detectives poured over Signal conversations revealing both Trump & Habibzai leading operational aspects directing other crew members suggesting which specific establishments should be canvassed plus identifying ideal targets worth stealing.
One individual alleged throughout proceedings could even locate exact models favored among their gang like Toyota Highlanders, Dodge Durangos alongside two types comprising Lexus SUVs occasionally opting towards Dodge Rams or Toyota Tundras instead-most selected ones belonged factory-years dating back towards ’24 rendering mileage very low overall.
A few others remain less popular but still deemed worthwhile attempts carrying certain risks associated within practice followed:
On occasion Signal messages exchanged containing discussions covering General Motors products showcased how if snatched hold over $100K Chevrolet Tahoe easily fetches almost $15K cash circulating streets Montreal netting profit margin reaching upwards $3K thereafter!!
Another member conversed providing insight concerning visiting dealership testing Tahoes delivering cloning key fob directly during ride then eventually executing actual thievery subsequently occurring not long post chat session capturing subsequent Tahoe stolen while correspondingly discussing potential sales involving unknown entity dubbed “Slimtakingover”.
A few others remain less popular but still deemed worthwhile attempts carrying certain risks associated within practice followed:
On occasion Signal messages exchanged containing discussions covering General Motors products showcased how if snatched hold over $100K Chevrolet Tahoe easily fetches almost $15K cash circulating streets Montreal netting profit margin reaching upwards $3K thereafter!!
Another member conversed providing insight concerning visiting dealership testing Tahoes delivering cloning key fob directly during ride then eventually executing actual thievery subsequently occurring not long post chat session capturing subsequent Tahoe stolen while correspondingly discussing potential sales involving unknown entity dubbed “Slimtakingover”.
