Two suspects from Calgary have been arrested for their involvement in a sophisticated scheme to reassign vehicle identification numbers (VINs) on stolen vehicles.
On September 29, ALERT’s Auto Crimes unit charged the suspects, and recovered three stolen vehicles valued at approximately $380,000.
The recovered vehicles included two high-end trucks and a motorhome that had been stolen from Cochrane, Calgary, and Tsuut’ina.
According to ALERT, the two suspects were involved in re-vinning and fraudulently registering stolen vehicles by exploiting the vehicle registration process.
“By exploiting the system, these suspects were essentially hiding in plain sight. Organized and complex auto crimes such as these drive up insurance premiums for all Albertans,” said Staff Sgt. Gordon MacDonald, ALERT.
Service Alberta has been notified and is assisting with the investigation.
The investigation began when an innocent third party was notified about driving offenses committed in a vehicle that had been fraudulently registered in their name.
Thirty-six-year-old Darko Kolundzic and 39-year-old Viviana Tello are each charged with possession of property obtained by crime, uttering a forged document, and fraud.
