York Regional Police have arrested 19 people in connection with a point-of-sale theft ring operating across York Region.
Between the fall of 2022 and spring of 2023, investigators say they identified an increasing series of commercial break and enters occurring within Vaughan. The suspects were targeting small businesses with point-of-sale devices (PIN pads).
Police say suspects would observe businesses during the day, to confirm if a business had PIN pads, then return at night to break into the premises and steal it. The suspects would then use the machines to fraudulently issue refunds to themselves using PIN pad access codes that were visible on the terminals, making a substantial profit.
On one PIN pad alone they were able to access $50,000 worth of fraudulent refunds, police said.
According to police, in May 2023, officers executed five search warrants in Toronto, including a location that was being used as a clubhouse by the suspects. As a result, nine gaming machines, an ATM machine and numerous PIN pad devices were seized.
In total, 19 people have been arrested with 89 charges laid, including conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, commit indictable offence for a criminal organization, break and enter and theft over $5,000.
The investigation is ongoing and investigators are releasing photos of two outstanding suspects, urging them to seek legal counsel and turn themselves in.
Anyone with information is asked to contact York Regional Police #4 District Criminal Investigations Bureau, Property Crime Unit, at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7445, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
