Three men arrested, one wanted for Vaughan and Barrie thefts

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Police have arrested and charged three men while another male suspect is wanted following thefts in Vaughan and Barrie earlier this year.

York Regional Police said one of the suspects is accused of nearly a dozen charges of failing to comply with a release order.

Police said officers responded on June 12 to a report of a stolen boat and trailer in the area of Islington Ave. and Hwy. 7 in Vaughan.

Cops later learned that multiple suspects arrived in two vehicles, one of which had been reported stolen. Police said, a short time later, both vehicles were seen leaving the area, with one vehicle towing a stolen 23-foot motorboat and trailer.

Stolen vehicle recovered in Barrie

More than two months later, on Aug. 21, Barrie Police recovered the stolen vehicle used in the theft of the motorboat and trailer.

During the theft probe, police said investigators were in the Barrie area on Oct. 7 when they began following a stolen vehicle with a trailer attached to it, adding cops observed a second vehicle was travelling in tandem with the stolen vehicle.

Police said officers followed the stolen vehicle and trailer to the Weston and Langstaff Rds. area in Vaughan where the driver and passenger were arrested.

The driver of the second vehicle left the area and, police said with the assistance of helicopter support and uniform patrol officers, the vehicle was stopped in Barrie. The vehicle was determined to be stolen and the driver was arrested, cops said.

Release order charges laid

Michael Kwias, 45, of Barrie, has been charged with six counts of possession of property obtained by crime exceeding $5,000, 11 counts of failing to comply with a release order, three counts of theft exceeding $5,000, two counts of uttering a forged documents, dangerous operation, and possession of a break-in instrument.

Darryl Townsend, 51, of Barrie, has been charged with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime exceeding $5,000.

Jovan Rajkovic, 40, of Brampton, has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime not exceeding $5,000 and possession of a break-in instrument.

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The fourth suspect, William Freeman, 39, of Midland, is wanted for the June 12 incident and is facing two counts of theft exceeding $5,000. Police said a warrant for his arrest has been issued and released a photo of the suspect as investigators have been unable to locate him.

Investigators also released a photo of Kwias as he is believed to be involved in similar incidents.

Police ask anyone with information to contact the #4 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7445 or submit anonymous tips by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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