A Quebec woman mentioned she was very shocked to search out her stolen Audi had been utilized in what’s being described as an “absolutely insane” Ontario mall theft.
Taylor-Anna Kobinger, a resident of Laval, Que., listed her 2011 Black Audi A4 on Fb Market in January as a way to lift the funds wanted for a down cost on a house.
On Jan. 29, Kobinger mentioned a person responded to her advert and got here to her dwelling so as to check drive the car. She mentioned he took the automobile out twice – on the primary drive, she mentioned all the things went accordingly, however when he requested to check drive it a second time, she mentioned the person started to “drive dangerously.”
“He was really driving very dangerously and I didn’t feel secure, so I [asked] to change places,” Kobinger mentioned.
However, when she stepped out of the passenger seat, she mentioned the person hit the fuel and drove away.
“I tried to run after it. I fell. I slipped because I had rain boots,” she mentioned. “And from that moment, I haven’t seen my car.”
Nevertheless, on Wednesday morning, Kobinger mentioned York Regional Police (YRP) advised her that her automobile had been concerned in a theft – greater than 550 km from her dwelling in Laval.
In line with York Regional Police (YRP), a automobile with the identical license plate as Kobinger’s had been pushed via the glass doorways of an Ontario mall early Wednesday earlier than allegedly breaking into an electronics retailer.
YRP was not in a position to affirm Kobinger because the proprietor of the automobile, however Kobinger offered documentation to Ontario Chronicle Toronto displaying her car matched the outline and plate quantity offered by police in an earlier press launch.
Surveillance footage from inside Vaughan Mills, simply north of Toronto, reveals a 2011 Black Audi A4, with Quebec licence plate, driving into one of many mall’s closed entrances at a excessive charge of velocity.
The car is then seen driving erratically via plenty of hallways within the purchasing centre earlier than smashing via a special exit and fleeing the scene.
The video doesn’t present, nevertheless, when the suspects allegedly broke into the shop.
“It is an audacious crime,” Sgt. Clint Whitney advised reporters outdoors the mall on Wednesday. “It is unacceptable. People work in this mall, there is going to be cleaners, there is going to be security personnel. So we are just fortunate that nobody was hurt and it is property damage only.”
The incident occurred at round 1:10 a.m. on the purchasing centre close to Freeway 400 and Rutherford Street. Police arrived shortly after 1:30 a.m.
He mentioned that the car, which had been reported stolen, was final seen heading in the direction of Jane Road.
“It did look like they were going shopping in that vehicle. It is very, very audacious,” he advised reporters. “I don’t know what was going through their minds.”
A car is seen driving via a Vaughan Mills mall as a part of a smash-and-grab fashion theft. (York Regional Police)
Whitney mentioned police are on the lookout for two suspects in reference to the incident however are unable to supply an outline, as each have been disguised by hoods on the time.
He mentioned the suspects made off with a “quantity of electronic devices” and will face intensive charges in reference to the obvious joyride.
At about 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Kobinger mentioned YRP referred to as her and advised her of her automobile’s involvement within the incident.
“First, I cried, I freaked out because I don’t have that kind of money to fix it,” Kobinger mentioned when requested how she took the information.
“Never in my life did I expect to see my car in a mall – literally never – I was very surprised to have it all the way [in Vaughan].”
Whereas Kobinger mentioned she’s glad her automobile has been discovered, she additionally mentioned she’s struck with fear over the prices of getting to journey to retrieve it and the next repairs.
Vaughan Mayor Stephen Del Duca referred to as the incident “absolutely insane” when chatting with CP24 Wednesday.
“Earlier this morning when I heard the story I couldn’t believe it,” Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca advised CP24 on Wednesday.
“I shop at Vaughan Mills, so many in our community do. It is just outrageous. I have lived here for 35 years. Vaughan is a very safe community but to see the way that some people, the criminal element, are going about doing what they are doing, it is outrageous and we need every hand on deck to try to fix it.”
