The worst case (or best example if you prefer) of how badly the authorities can screw up is unfolding in Belleville court. It’s a case over the alleged theft of 208 Classic and Collectible Cars from Grogan Ford and later Grogan Classics. Six people have so far been changed but the true crime is that some 45-50 people who bought the cars have had them seized by the OPP. The OPP have tracked cars down from the east coast right across to BC and are still looking for 150+ more. The rub is that the OPP have given the cars back to Larry Grogan who is trying to force Service Ontario to reverse ownerships back into his company’s name so he can resell them before legal ownership has been proven.
It started with a shady partner who allegedly falsified documents and in turn used those to help an accomplice in Service Ontario switch ownership into his or others names. Those vehicles were then sold to unsuspecting bona fide buyers.
It is rumoured that Larry Grogan blew the whistle on his partner after the arrangement went south. However, court documents have his lawyer claiming Grogan was a sick old man who made the mistake of trusting the wrong person. He failed to keep tabs on what was happening until he sold the Ford Dealership and tried to transfer ownerships of his inventory into Grogan Classics. This had somehow been going on for nearly FOUR years.
OMVIC is neck deep in this too. They failed at every turn to meet their mandate. By not doing their jobs it allowed for this to go on for over four years. Even after the two main suspects, Robert Bradshaw and Garry LeBlanc had pled guilty for operating a un licenced car lot OMVIC appears to have failed to investigate further.
The owners of the seized vehicles have lost not just their cars but their passion for the hobby that brought them such joy. They have lost more than just the purchase price and taxes paid. They have also lost every red cent and ounce of sweat they poured into their cars after the purchase. Without theirs cars they can no longer take part in car shows, drives and cruise nights that once gave them such joy. Oh and how the police got around the legalities of the seizures are one for the books.
Most people got a visit from the OPP and told they were in possession of a stolen vehicle and that they had to give it up. Many times all they saw was a blurry image on a cell phone as the vehicle was being loaded onto a waiting flatbed. For those who had a little knowledge of the law the OPP came back with a proper paper copy but still the owners had no or extremely limited warning of the seizures.
Look up Larry Grogan, Robert Bradshaw, Gary LeBlanc, Michael McClory, Charlotte Johnston, Jack Bradshaw and Roger Thompson.
There are also lots of news articles in the London Free press and The Independent like these two:
Over 160 stolen classic cars from Watford dealer still missing says lawyer | The Independent
Uncle of man in $6.5M classic car theft ring accused of lying to police
There are also many videos on-line like one:
