Wanted former garage owner from Elliot Lake arrested for theft, fraud

An Ontario Provincial Police cruiser is shown driving down a highway in the winter. (File Photo/Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook)

The former owner of a garage in Elliot Lake was arrested in the city on Wednesday at a retail store on Highway 108 in relation to numerous previously reported offences and outstanding arrest warrants.

On Jan. 26, Ontario Provincial Police received a complaint from an individual stating they had paid someone to fix their car but the vehicle was given back.

“The person took their car in December of 2024 to complete the work and never returned it,” police said in a news release.

Police said they had received “numerous” complaints starting in January 2020 in relation to the same person running a garage on Kilborn Way.

“Complainants who reported having their vehicles taken without consent, having their vehicles stolen, paying for repair work that was never done and receiving false receipts,” OPP said.

“Numerous arrest warrants were issued in relation to these offences and failing to attend court.”

The 54-year-old man is now charged with theft over $5,000, two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of taking a motor vehicle without consent, four counts of fraud, producing a misleading receipt and two counts of failing to attend court after having previously appeared.

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Elliot Lake on March 13.