The remnants of more than a dozen vehicles stolen from throughout the Toronto area have been found in a west-end storage facility.

On Tuesday, York Regional Police invited the media to see the Rexdale Boulevard rental unit that they raided, which remains filled with more than $100,000 worth of engines, air bags, transmissions and parts taken from stolen vehicles.

Det. Sgt. Lou Malbeuf said police found the stash while conducting an investigation into a website that was selling parts.

“We looked into it, found out who the owner was and did a search warrant last week at a chop shop…and from there that led us to here,” he said.

Parts linked to 16 vehicles, police say

Malbeuf said the parts found in the storage unit are linked to as many as 16 vehicles that were stolen in Toronto, as well as Peel and York regions, over the past six months.

He said criminals keep a close eye on cars that may be vulnerable to theft, stealing them when they are left idling or by stealing the keys to the ignition.

“You’ve got these guys that are scouting out the neighbourhoods looking for these things and sure enough they’ll take your car.”

Cheap parts sell very well on the internet, where buyers will quickly pick up on a good deal.

But Malbeuf said buyers should beware of deals that seem too good to be true.

“You have to be careful,” said Malbeuf, noting that buyers can potentially be charged if they know they are buying stolen parts.

One man has been arrested in connection with the haul of stolen parts found at the storage facility on Rexdale Boulevard and he faces several charges.

But police are not releasing his name for the time being while they look for another suspect.