Karim Vellani of North Vancouver has been charged with 2 counts of possession of stolen property over $5000, 1 count of theft of a motor vehicle, 2 counts of possession of stolen property under $5000, 1 count of attempted theft of motor vehicle, 1 count theft under $5000, 1 count of possession of break and enter instruments.
SURREY – A South Asian man is among five people charged with stealing vehicles where owners had left keys inside them.
After a rash of stolen vehicles from across the Lower Mainland, starting in mid-January, the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team (IMPACT) announced the charges against five individuals in two separate investigations.
“All the stolen vehicles had keys of some type left in them,” warns Inspector Peter Jadis, the head of IMPACT. “We’re seeing a definite increase in this type of theft. What happens is that thieves will smash the window, and are stealing the cars with valet-type or fob style keys, which aren’t required to be in the ignition. Owners may be keeping these keys in the glove box, or perhaps even in a purse left in the car.”
Karim Vellani , 32, of North Vancouver has been charged with 2 counts of possession of stolen property over $5000, 1 count of theft of a motor vehicle, 2 counts of possession of stolen property under $5000, 1 count of attempted theft of motor vehicle, 1 count theft under $5000, 1 count of possession of break and enter instruments.
IMPACT has been working with ICBC and the Surrey Detachment Auto Crime Target Team to actively investigate the thefts. On February 4 IMPACT and the Surrey Auto Crime Target Team investigators arrested three suspects, who are now facing a total of ten combined charges.
Others charged include Andrew Marlow, 33, of Surrey is charged with 2 counts of possession of stolen property over $5000, 1 count of theft of a motor vehicle, 2 counts of possession of stolen property under $5000, 1 count of drive while disqualified, 1 count of drive while prohibited, 1 count of attempted theft of motor vehicle; Christopher Horkey, 30, of Surrey is charged with: 1 count of possession of stolen property under $5000
On February 5 members of the IMPACT Team observed an SUV that had been reported stolen the previous day in Burnaby. Surveillance on the vehicle was initiated by the IMPACT Team with the assistance of the Surrey Property Crime Team and the Lower Mainland Traffic Safety Helicopter Air 1. The male driver and female passenger were arrested in Surrey a short time later. The male driver was known to police and the female passenger had six outstanding warrants for her arrest.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Shawn David Scriver, 36, of Langley and the passenger was Raelene Elise Ferguson 39 years old of Surrey. The two appeared in Surrey court on February 6 and face the following charges.
“At issue is not just the theft of these vehicles, but also the manner in which stolen vehicles are typically driven,” says Insp. Jadis. “Stolen vehicles are often driven extremely recklessly, which places all of us at risk unfortunately.”
Vellani and Horkey were released on conditions, and will appear again in court in Surrey on Feb. 18, 2015. Andrew Marlow has been held in custody and is appearing in court again Feb. 11 in Surrey. Scriver and Ferguson appeared in Surrey court Friday.
