

Codi Wilson, CP24.com





A 32-year-old man was arrested in Whitby Tuesday morning in connection with the theft of a TTC bus, Durham Regional Police say.

According to investigators, the stolen bus was found in the area of Cochrane Street and Bonacord Avenue early this morning.

The suspect arrested in the theft is not believed to be an employee of the TTC.

TTC spokesperson Mike DeToma told CP24 it appears the bus was stolen from the transit agency's Birchmount Garage, located near Danforth Road and Birchmount Road.

DeToma said the operator parked the bus in the garage at around 1:40 a.m. and the bus was stolen sometime after that.

It is not clear exactly how the suspect got access to the bus.

DeToma added that this is not the first time a TTC vehicle has been stolen.

"I do believe we have had occasionally individuals take our vehicles for joy rides," DeToma said. "They’ve all ended from what I recall well. Fortunately no one was hurt in this case."

Investigators have not released the name of the suspect but say he is known to police.

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said police will be reviewing security camera footage from inside the bus and from around the garage.

He called the incident a "very serious matter."

"Buses are big. They are very hard to drive," Green said. "They are a complicated vehicle and we are just fortunate that there were no injuries in this case."

The bus is currently undergoing a safety inspection and Green said it could be back on the road as early as today.

The suspect has been charged with theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property over $5,000. He has been released on a promise to appear.