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On February 24, 2025, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) detectives assigned to 8 District (Grimsby/Lincoln/West Lincoln) and 2 District (Niagara Falls/Niagara-on-the-Lake) in conjunction with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Provincial Auto Theft and Towing (PATT) team, commenced an investigation involving stolen vehicles, vehicle parts and tampering with vehicle identification numbers (VIN) within the Township of West Lincoln.

On March 19, 2025, investigators executed judicially authorized search warrants at two properties in the Township of West Lincoln associated with the accused, as part of the stolen vehicle investigation.  During the execution of the search warrants, police discovered multiple stolen vehicles and vehicle components that had been re-VINed to conceal their stolen status.

 As a result of the investigation police arrested one individual, and seized the following stolen vehicles and vehicle components:

  •  5 x Tandem-axle commercial trailers (cargo, dump, and enclosed)
  •  2 x Pickup trucks
  •  1 x ATV
  •  1 x Motorcycle
  •  1 x Commercial riding mower
  •  6 x Vehicle doors from two stolen vehicles

 

Each of these vehicles had undergone VIN tampering, fraudulent registration, or other modifications to disguise their true identities.

 Anthony SHINTANI (37 years) of West Lincoln has been arrested and charged with the following criminal offences: 

  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (4 Counts) 
  • Tampering with a Vehicle Identification Number (4 Counts) 
  • Fraudulent Concealment (4 Counts)

 

SHINTANI was released on a Form 10 - Undertaking with a future court date.

Further investigation continues with further charges expected to be laid.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1008916.

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).  Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.

The Niagara Regional Police Service is a member of the provincial strategy to prevent auto thefts and conducts investigations in partnership with Ontario Police Services and International Partners. This investigative initiative has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General, allowing the NRPS to create the Auto Theft Investigation and Prevention Unit.

Additionally, the NRPS is an active participant of the Provincial Auto Theft and Towing (PATT) Team which conducts joint forces investigations related to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling organized crime networks operating high-level criminal and fraudulent activities related to vehicle crime, auto theft and misconduct in the towing industry.

“Equite was pleased to have partnered with Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) in this investigation. As the national authority on insurance crime and fraud prevention, Équité Association is a not-for-profit, supporting Canadian property and casualty (P&C) insurers. Équité plays a crucial role in tackling insurance crimes in Canada, particularly vehicle theft and fraud, by offering investigative support, intelligence best practices and advanced analytics in collaboration with agencies like the CBSA and local law enforcement.”

 

Incident #25-19573