The head of the Longueuil agglomeration police (SPAL) had his company car stolen, which contained some of his personal belongings, on the south coast of Montreal on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.
The theft of the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid – one of the most popular models among thieves – occurred in the early hours of the morning.
According to our information, the director of SPAL, Patrick Bélanger, had left some of his personal belongings in his company vehicle, including his wallet and his police badge.
The SPAL leader’s badge and an access card with Mr. Bélanger’s photo were found on Wednesday morning by a Montrealer walking her dog in a park in the east of the metropolis.
It was Patrick Bélanger himself who collected his ID from the young woman.
A cyclist also found Mr. Bélanger’s wallet and was able to hand it to him personally.
The police officer’s service weapon was not in his company vehicle.
The Toyota Highlander was found a few hours later in Longueuil.
However, SPAL refused to say whether one or more suspects have been identified in this case.
Patrick Bélanger, a former senior officer of the Sûreté du Québec, was appointed head of SPAL last February, succeeding Fady Dagher.
Recall that two weeks ago, the Sûreté du Québec had one of their unmarked vehicles, a black 2022 Chevrolet Suburban, stolen from a residential street in the Saint-Henri district. To date, the vehicle, which is valued at around $100,000 when new, has still not been found.
A few weeks earlier, Montreal Police Service (SPVM) chief Fady Dagher had his bike stolen in front of the police headquarters on Saint-Urbain Street downtown.
Finally, in January 2022, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante’s official vehicle was stolen in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville district.
The black Toyota Highlander hybrid SUV was finally found two days later as it was about to be shipped to Africa.