By Staff
September 23rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
On Tuesday September 20, 2022, officers with the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau executed a search warrant at Empire Auto Parts on Brant Street in Burlington. Investigators with the assistance of Equite Association (formerly Insurance Bureau of Canada) have spent three days combing through the large two-story warehouse to identify stolen parts and vehicles.
Approximately 70 stolen vehicles have been identified through engines, transmissions, hoods and doors.
All identifiable vehicle parts have been seized and transported to a secure location.
The estimated value of parts seized is $350,000 and the value of the original stolen vehicles is more than $2.5 million.
High end car engines seized in a raid
Police seized the following stolen property
- 28 fully intact, high end vehicle engines
- 15 vehicle transmissions
- 16 sets of vehicle doors
- 19 vehicle hoods
- A stolen skid steer
Ismet Bajcinca (43) of Hamilton was arrested and has been charged with:
- Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 (4 counts)
- Tampering with Vehicle Identification Number
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
Bajcinca was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2316.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
Update: Decided to drive to the site above today just to reconfirm how this establishment, and former Federal building could have become a major crime scene! The old road to the north side which used to allow vehicles is now overgrown and impassible! So all of the vehicle activity took place on the shared driveway ( and exit driveway from the back Brant Arts Pharmacy on the south side!
There was a police yellow tape stating “ crime scene “ hanging from the building!
But interestingly enough the parking lot behind the building had a dozen and more vehicles, truck bodies and steel bins on site! Obviously this crime site is a work in progress!
Pepper there is more story and questions here than the initial announcement related!
Like: A. When and how and who vetted the renting of this premise! B. Did all the nefarious activity take place at night or was daytime activity considered normal? Some very large vehicles still on hand there! Are they also stolen? C. How large a group of thieves were involved in this operation!
Our authorities will say ‘ no comment at this time as investigation in progress etc.’
However all Burlington residents should feel violated by the sheer audacious nature of this crime and have many questions! How many of the chopped up vehicles came from our community?
For those interested 688 Brant Street is the old Burlington Post Office building closed by our Federal Government a few years back. It bore a “ For Sale “ sign ever since. Guess they were approached to rent by the gang of “ Car Thieves “!
It’s a 29,000 sq.foot location and shows the scope of this crime that occurred right under our noses. Main Street, Downtown Burlington! Hubris showing the genius of hiding in plain site!