Police lay over 100 charges in auto theft and firearm probe

Three men and one woman are facing 142 charges after an investigation into 17 stolen vehicles recovered in Scarborough, Toronto police said Tuesday.

Police said in a news release the stolen vehicles were recovered in the area of Neilson and Ellesmere roads between July and September.

The three men aged 19, 21 and 22 were part of a criminal operation that left the vehicles there to "cool off" after stealing them, police allege. A woman was also arrested in connection with the thefts.

After executing search warrants on two Toronto homes in late September, police said they seized a glock handgun and two extended magazines, multiple key fobs and car key programmers, as well as $27,000.

The three men are facing a long list of charges including, but not limited to: theft of a motor vehicle, trafficking in property obtained by crime, and possession of a car master key.

Two of the men are also facing firearm charges.

A 19-year-old woman is also facing three firearm-related offences, including unauthorized possession. She's not charged with stealing cars.

The three men were scheduled to attend the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on Sept. 28.

The woman is scheduled to appear in court Nov 13.