Man arrested for allegedly stealing high-end cars from dealerships, posed as customer
Posted September 20, 2022 3:23 pm.
Last Updated September 20, 2022 3:32 pm.
A man from Eastern Ontario is facing charges for allegedly stealing multiple high-end vehicles while posing as a customer at car dealerships in York Region.
Police began an investigation on August 2 after a Porsche was stolen from a dealership in the area of McCowan Road and Bullock Drive in Markham. It’s alleged that a man requested to test drive the vehicle and then drove away.
Two similar thefts were carried out on August 29 at a dealership in the Steeles Avenue East and Woodbine Avenue area and on September 15 near Kennedy Road at Castan Avenue.
The suspect allegedly stole an Audi RS7 in the second incident and, on September 15, drove away in a Mercedes SUV. That same day, officers noticed the vehicle in a parking lot.
When police tried to arrest the suspect and retrieve the car, a police cruiser was damaged. The man then fled on foot and unsuccessfully attempted to carjack a nearby vehicle.
York regional police arrested 47-year-old Joseph Roland Arsene Racine of St. Andrews, Ont. He’s facing multiple charges, including theft of a motor vehicle over $5,000, robbery, and criminal negligence.
Police released the man’s photo to see if any other alleged incidents have occured and have not been reported to investigators.
Racine will appear in court on Friday, September 23.
