A Laval woman has struggled to trust people since her car was used in Toronto to commit a burglary involving one of Quebec’s most dangerous drivers, almost two years ago.
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“When I saw the videos of my car, I couldn’t believe it. I started crying,” says Taylor-Ann Kobinger.
In January 2023, the young woman, then 27 years old, put her Audi A4 for sale on Marketplace in order to obtain a down payment to buy a house. It was in this context that a man she did not know showed up to take a test drive.
His car was used to break down the doors of the Vaughan Mills shopping center near Toronto in February 2023.
Screenshot from video provided by York Police
“After a first lap of the car, he asked me to change places so that I could show him [une option] on the car. When we got out of the vehicle, he hurried to enter the driver’s side and fled,” says M.me Kobinger.
“I was completely panicked. I had just put $6,000 in repairs on the car and I had taken that money out of nowhere…” she recalls.
A well-known driver
Just a few days later, one of her friends showed her video of a burglary at the Vaughan Mills shopping center near Toronto. What was her surprise when she found that it was her car that was being used as a battering ram to force her way inside.
The thieves stole electronic items from a The Source store, before leaving through another entrance.
Screenshot from video provided by York Police
“There were stickers from the women’s modified car club that I’m a part of, Ladies on wheelson my vehicle. People started saying it was me, that I had orchestrated the theft. It really affected me,” laments the young woman.
Three people were arrested in this case: Israel Muamba, O’Brian Grant and Lesane Pillay. The latter, barely 22 years old, is one of the most prolific driving offenders in Quebec in recent years.
Since 2020, he has been charged with dangerous driving five times, three of which he was convicted of. He is currently awaiting trial on the other two charges.
Lesane Pillay, aged 21 at the time, was wanted after the Vaughan Mills shopping center burglary.
Photo provided by York Police
Loss of confidence
“At 22, you have your life ahead of you. It’s sad to see that you’re going to ruin it by doing something stupid like that. If I were her parents, I would be ashamed,” comments Taylor-Ann Kobinger.
For her part, the young woman was able to recover her car, the damage of which was completely repaired without her having to pay a penny.
Ms. Kobinger was able to recover her car, completely repaired free of charge, after the events.
Photo Martin Chevalier
Since then, she has received new purchase proposals in the ad she left on social networks. But she can’t bring herself to relive this traumatic experience.
“I don’t trust anyone anymore,” she says.
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