Two Calgary residents charged after RCMP uncover stolen vehicle re-vinning scheme

Two Calgary residents have been charged with fraud-related offences after Alberta RCMP dismantled a vehicle re-vinning operation that produced fraudulent registrations for stolen SUVs recovered in Alberta and British Columbia, Alberta RCMP said in a news release Thursday.

The Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit began the investigation in July 2026 after discovering a series of fraudulent vehicle registrations in the greater Calgary area. Investigators determined the registrations were linked to a small group of associates from northeast Calgary.

The unit recovered a fraudulently registered Lexus SUV in Alberta, confirming it was a stolen, re-vinned vehicle from Calgary. With help from the New Westminster Police Department and the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team, police also recovered two newer-model Toyota SUVs in British Columbia, both confirmed to be stolen re-vinned vehicles from Calgary. The total value of vehicles recovered is approximately $290,000.

On Sept. 2, 2026, SAD CRU — with assistance from the Calgary RCMP Auto-Theft Unit and Calgary Police Service — arrested two people and executed a search warrant at a northeast Calgary residence.

A 51-year-old and a 56-year-old, both Calgary residents, were each charged with three counts of use, trafficking or possession of a forged document. Both were released and are scheduled to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Calgary on Oct. 20.

RCMP said they expect more vehicles may be recovered as the investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact their local police.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.