74 charges laid in auto thefts in Halton and Waterloo regions

Video shows suspect attempting to steal car from a driveway in Milton.

Multiple people have been arrested and a total of 74 charges have been laid following an extensive auto theft investigation by Halton Regional Police connected to auto theft in the Halton and Waterloo Regions.

Police have also issued a warrant for a sixth suspect who is also being charged with 25 counts related to auto theft.

On June 11, police announced the arrests of five people.

Police have also issued a warrant for a sixth suspect who is also being charged with 25 counts related to auto theft.

The investigation, which has been dubbed Project Steel, began in March after a vehicle was stolen from a driveway in Milton.

Police said the victim’s wallet, which had been left inside the vehicle, was later used to purchase fast food in the Greater Toronto Area.

As the investigation progressed, officers identified multiple suspects, police said in a news release.

On April 1, investigators executed a search warrant at a home and vehicle in Brampton, resulting in five people being arrested.

Investigators also seized vehicle reprogramming devices, magnetic vehicle trackers, break-in tools and several fake identification cards.

Police arrested multiple suspects and charged them with multiple offences related to auto theft.

• Aderyen Hadjarab, 29, of Montreal - 45 charges
• Zineddine Naas-Arabas, 22, of Montreal - six charges
• Ahmad Fares, 33, of Laval, Que. - three charges
• Rayan Cherchar, 20, of Mississauga - seven charges

According to police, further investigation revealed the group is connected to 13 auto thefts and attempted thefts in Halton Region and a separate auto theft in Waterloo Region in 2026.

On June 2, police arrested a fifth suspect, Mecissa Ikkene, 23, of L’Assomption, Que.

Police said Hadjarab, Naas-Arabas and Ikkene were under court-ordered release conditions at the time of their arrests.

Police also released a photo of Hadjarab, positioned on top of one of a stolen vehicle in a storage container.

6th suspect wanted

Halton police have also issued an arrest warrant for a sixth suspect, Hamza Diazali, 20, of Laval, Quebec

Diazali is wanted on 25 charges:

• 12 counts of motor vehicle theft;
• 12 counts of failing to comply with probation; and
• unauthorized use of a credit card.

“Organized auto theft is a crime that impacts our community on multiple levels and remains a priority issue for our police service,” Det. Sgt. Kevin Magee, manager of the 1 District Criminal Investigation Bureau, said in a statement.

“We will continue to leverage every available resource to disrupt criminal activity, identify those responsible and ensure they are held accountable before the courts.”