Cheese heist ends in truck rollover, 3 arrests

Police arrested three men who allegedly stole a truck packed with cheese, then evaded officers until the truck rolled over on a highway north of Toronto.

York Regional Police Const. Andy Pattenden said he has "no idea" if the suspects were after the cheese, but said upwards of 30,000 pounds of it were stolen and it has a "pretty high value."

Cargo theft is an ongoing issue in the area, Pattenden said, with thieves targeting "whatever commodity is of high value."

York Regional Police were alerted about the stolen truck around 10 p.m. on Tuesday in the Highway 7 and Vaughan Valley Boulevard area of Vaughan, Ont. Police soon located the truck, but the driver refused to stop.

"Out of concern for public safety officers did not pursue the tractor trailer," York Regional Police said in a news release.

Officers tracked the truck using GPS. Soon after the suspects fled from officers, the truck rolled over near an off-ramp at Highway 7 West and Highway 427.

All three men fled on foot following the crash, police allege.

York Regional Police officers and members of the Ontario Provincial Police began tracking the suspects along with a canine unit — no, Pattenden said, the dogs weren't chasing the scent of sharp cheddar.

One suspect was found driving in a car in the area of Royal Crest Drive and arrested police said. The other two were found nearby where they were trying to hail a taxi.

The three suspects, who range in age from 19-36, are each charged with theft over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

All three are set to appear in court today.