Peel Regional Police have arrested one suspect and are searching for two others in connection with a series of thefts involving tractor trailers in Mississauga and Oakville. The suspects are accused of stealing over $2.2 million worth of merchandise from trailers while the vehicles were stopped at red lights. The first incident took place on May 28 in Mississauga, where suspects allegedly breached a Purolator tractor trailer and made off with $1.8 million worth of goods. In subsequent incidents in June and July, similar techniques were used to steal additional merchandise, including $300,000 worth of electronics.
The suspects attempted a third theft in July, trying to force a tractor trailer to stop using a cube van and a passenger vehicle, but were unsuccessful as the driver was alerted to their presence and continued driving. The final incident occurred on July 28 in Oakville, where the suspects confronted a driver and made violent threats before fleeing with $120,000 in stolen electronics. Following these incidents, Peel and Halton Regional Police launched a joint investigation, leading to the identification of three suspects.
Marius Ionescu, a 36-year-old from Scarborough, has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including two counts of theft over $5,000. However, two other suspects remain at large, identified as 29-year-old Florian Porumbita and 27-year-old Florian Porumbita, both from Scarborough. Arrest warrants have been issued for the two remaining suspects. Peel Regional Police praised the collaboration with Halton Police, stating the joint investigation played a crucial role in the case.