5 charged with car theft after off-duty officer noticed suspicious vehicle

Ottawa police have charged four men and a youthin connection with a car theftin Ottawa's east end.

The men, all between the ages of 18 and 19, and a 15-year-old are charged with theft of a motor vehicle and possession of an automobile master key, among other charges.

An off-duty police officer noticed a suspicious vehicle idling in front of a house with a newer Lexus SUV in the driveway near Navan Road and Orlans Boulevard Drive just after 11 p.m. Tuesday. He then contacted fellow officers, according to a release sent Wednesday afternoon.

Canine officers pulled the suspicious carover in a traffic stop.

The men were arrested when police found key fobs, computers and electronics they said are commonly usedin vehicle thefts.

Police askanyone who owns a Lexus or Toyota vehicle and notices new damage to the driver's side door handle, or observes someone taking photos of their dashboard Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), tocontact police.

"Vehicle thefts happen fast, oftentimes overnight, leaving the owner unaware until hours later," police wrote in the release.

Anyone with information on this particularincident is also asked to contact the Ottawa policeEast Criminal Investigations Unit.