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OPP, Quebec police seize 13 more classic cars

November 26, 2024

Heather Wright/The Independent

Police in both Ontario and Quebec have scooped up another 13 cars in the case of the theft of over 200 classic cars from a Watford dealer.

Four people face up to 13 charges each after classic cars were stolen and sold to unwitting car enthusiasts starting in 2020. In late 2023, Larry Grogan of Grogan Classics alerted Lambton OPP about missing classic cars. May 14, the OPP searched a garage in Stirling, north of Belleville. Police found 16 of Grogan’s cars worth about $3 million.

Police charged Robert Bradshaw, 54, and Gary LeBlanc, 55, with multiple counts of theft, fraud, using forged documents and conspiracy. In early October, OPP officers arrested Michael McCrory, 58, and laid the same six charges against him. Then, Oct. 28, OPP arrested Charolotte Johnston, 53, who is now jointly charged with Bradshaw, LeBlanc and McCrory in the thefts. Police allege they resold the cars after using forged ownership documents.

Bradshaw is also facing a charge of utter threats against Grogan after coming to Lambton County Sept. 2023, as police investigated.

In a news release Tuesday, police said the OPP Auto Theft and Towing Team worked with five divisions of Sûreté du Québec searched 18 homes and recovered another 13 classic cars. Police aren’t releasing any other information “to protect the integrity of the investigation.

In an online group for those who purchased the classic cars and now are having them repossessed, Quebec car enthusiasts posted photos of their vehicles being towed away on Nov. 19.

One man said police had knocked on his door at 7 am, handed him a warrant and loaded up his car. “I guess it’s my turn,” he wrote. There are likely to be more seizures.

Grogan’s lawyer, Paul Downs, told The Independent, 208 cars were stolen and over 150 are still missing.

The four facing charges appear again in court Nov. 28.

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