You never know what an old barn might hold—including a stash of automotive gold.
Police in Canada have arrested two people accused of hiding several stolen cars in a barn in southwestern Ontario, according to Global News. The group of ill-gotten automobiles, some of which date back to the first half of last century, are estimated to be worth over $2 million.
The big-money find is the result of a tip Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received late last year about stolen vehicles in Lambton County. Following a months-long, multi-department investigation, a search warrant was issued on May 14 for a property in Stirling, a small rural community located 15 miles north of the city of Belleville. It was there that officers located the stolen vehicles in a barn.
OPP West Region/X
Posts on the OPP’s official social media channels state that the officers who conducted the search located a number of classics and seized 16 vehicles from the accused perpetrators as proceeds of crimes. Authorities did not identify what vehicles they had found, but photos accompanying the post show a few first-generation Chevrolet Corvettes, as well as hot rods and pickup trucks dating back to the pre-war era. The OPP put the total value of the vehicles at approximately $3 million Canadian, or around $2.2 million.
Robert Bradshaw and Gary Leblanc, both residents of Stirling, were arrested following the search of the property. Both were charged with theft of motor vehicles over $5,000, fraud over $5,000, and using forged documents and conspiracy to commit an indictable offense. Leblanc was also charged with uttering threats.
“Collaboration across our organization and with our partner agencies is imperative to combat the prevalence of auto theft and related fraud within Ontario,” OPP detective superintendent Paula Milne was quoted as saying by Global News. “This investigation is another testament to the surge we have seen in auto theft and financial crimes over the last few years and the need for subject matter expert involvement in these investigations.”
This isn’t the first time that Bradshaw and Leblanc have run afoul of the law. Both men pleaded guilty to multiple charges in December 2003 under Ontario’s Motor Vehicle Dealers Act. There could be more consequences related to the current investigation, which, as of last week, was still ongoing.
