Halton Police Lay 29 Charges in GTHA Auto-Theft Case, Warn Milton Drivers About Hidden Trackers

Halton police have charged a man with dozens of offences after a five-month auto-theft investigation, and are using the case to warn Milton and area drivers about a tactic in which thieves secretly attach GPS trackers to targeted vehicles.

What Happened

According to a Halton Regional Police Service media release issued Aug. 20, 2026, investigators laid 29 charges against a 25-year-old man following a probe that began in April 2026. Police say the investigation started after an Oakville resident found an Accutag tracking device attached to their vehicle and contacted police. The service's 2 District Criminal Investigation Bureau alleges the accused was responsible for 14 thefts and attempted thefts of high-end Lexus and Toyota vehicles across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, including Halton Region, between March and August 2026.

Police say the accused, identified in the release as Darryl Davance, 25, of Saint-Jerome, Quebec, was arrested on Aug. 18, 2026, and charged with 14 counts of theft of a motor vehicle, 14 counts of failing to comply with a release order, and one count of mischief over $5,000. According to police, he has been held in custody pending a bail hearing in Milton, and was already subject to prior release conditions for similar offences at the time of his arrest. The charges have not been proven in court, and police say the investigation is ongoing, with the accused believed to be linked to additional thefts across the region.

Key Details

• Halton police laid 29 charges after a five-month auto-theft investigation, according to the service's Aug. 20, 2026 media release.

• Police allege the accused was responsible for 14 thefts and attempted thefts of high-end Lexus and Toyota vehicles across the GTHA, including Halton, between March and August 2026.

• The charges include 14 counts of theft of a motor vehicle, 14 counts of failing to comply with a release order, and one count of mischief over $5,000.

• The accused was arrested Aug. 18, 2026, and is being held for a bail hearing in Milton; the charges have not been tested in court.

• Police say the investigation began after an Oakville resident found a tracking device on their vehicle.

Community Impact

Police are warning drivers that thieves increasingly hide small GPS or Bluetooth trackers on vehicles in busy public lots - behind licence plates, in wheel wells, inside gas-cap doors or bumpers - then monitor the vehicle and steal it later from a quieter location. For Milton residents who park at malls, transit lots and hotels, the service recommends a few precautions: use phone features that alert you to unknown trackers moving with you, do a quick walk-around of your vehicle before leaving a public lot, and, if you suspect you are being followed, drive to a well-lit public area or a police station rather than home. Police also advise anyone who finds a tracking device not to throw it away, since it may hold evidence, and to contact police instead.

Background

Auto theft has been a persistent concern across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, and Halton police have run several vehicle-theft investigations in 2026. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau, or to submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

Source: Halton Regional Police Service - https://www.haltonpolice.ca/news-releases/posts/tracking-device-leads-to-the-arrest-of-car-thief

This article is a rewritten summary based on publicly available information. Milton Baithak does not claim ownership of original source reporting. For corrections or removal requests, please contact Milton Baithak.