Brazen thieves breached a moving transport truck and stole $1.8 million worth of merchandise, say Peel Region Police.
They managed to get off the trailer while it was stopped at a red light, according to allegations.
Police have charged one man and issued arrest warrants for two others following the high-octane theft that resembled something straight out of the Fast and Furious action movie franchise.
In a news release issued on Wednesday, police said that on May 28, the thieves were in the North Service Rd. area of Mississauga, closely following a Purolator tractor-trailer in a vehicle of their own before boarding the truck.
And police allege the truck hijackers are responsible for other crimes:
— On June 10, police said thieves were in the Creditview Rd.-Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. area in Mississauga where they distracted the driver of another Purolator tractor-trailer while it was in motion, allegedly with the same intent to commit theft. In this instance, police say $300,000 worth of electronics were stolen.
— On July 11, police said, thieves were in Mississauga’s Hogan Dr.-Britannia Rd. W. area and allegedly attempted to use a cube van and a passenger van to force a tractor-trailer to make an abrupt stop so they could board it. The trailer was loaded with $1.2 million worth of cellphones. They were not successful as the driver, who was aware of what was going on, continued to operate the tractor-trailer.
— On June 28, a driver of a tractor trailer — loaded with printers, TVs and laptops — was threatened with violence while confronting the thieves who tried to board the truck in the Trafalgar-Burnhamthorpe Rds. area in Oakville, said police.
Marius Ionescu, 36, of Scarborough, faces two counts of theft over $5,000, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, and robbery.
Arrest warrants have been issued for two other Scarborough men who share a last name: Florian Porumbita, 29, and Florian Porumbita, 27.