Cardboard ‘arts and crafts’ Ontario licence plates seized, 2 Brampton residents charged

Two Brampton residents face charges in connection to an Orillia theft investigation where handmade, cardboard licence plates and drugs were seized.

The incident began when police were called to investigate a possible theft in progress at a local Orillia business on Monarch Drive around 2:25 p.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 20), OPP said in a press release.

Three people were reportedly filling a shopping cart with electronic devices. Staff told police the same people had been seen in the past using distraction techniques to complete thefts.

Around the same time that officers arrived at the business, the three people left the cart of items and fled the store, police said.

Police stopped three people and searched a vehicle.

Officers found the license plates displayed on the vehicle were made out of cardboard, highlighting the “arts & craft skills utilized to try and avoid detection,” OPP said.

The numbers on the cardboard plates, while not registered to the vehicle on scene, were a match for another vehicle of the same make, model and colour, police said.

Police said officers seized two fake Ontario license plates, 0.7 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and 0.7 grams of suspected cocaine.

Photo: OPP

Three people face charges.

Lovepreet Singh, 33, of Barrie, has been charged with failure to comply with release and two counts of obstructing a peace officer. The accused was held in police custody pending a bail hearing.

Rajwinder Mangat, 37, of Brampton, has been charged with possession of a schedule 1 substance – heroin, possession of a schedule 1 substance – methamphetamine, and obstructing a peace officer.

Mangat was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Orillia to answer to the charges at a later date in February 2024.

Prabhpreet Singh, 28, of Brampton, has been charged with two counts of obstructing a peace officer.

Singh was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Orillia, to answer to the charges at a later date in February 2024.

Anyone with information about this crime should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online at www.crimestopperssdm.com.

Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display, and you will remain anonymous. Being anonymous, you will not testify in court and your information may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000.