Police have arrested 18-year-old Sarah Badshaw, who allegedly stole a Porsche and ran over its owner in a brazen incident captured on video. The suspect turned herself in to authorities on Thursday, just one day after police released footage of the theft. Officers have confirmed that the stolen Porsche has been recovered.
The incident occurred on September 6 near Winston Churchill Boulevard and Eglinton Avenue in Mississauga. Badshaw attended the victim’s residence after responding to an AutoTrader advertisement for the 2022 Porsche Cayenne.
In the footage, Badshaw can be seen knocking on the victim’s door, claiming she was waiting for her father and interested in viewing the car. The video then cuts to the driveway, where she is shown in the driver’s seat. As the vehicle starts to move, the victim attempts to enter the car but instead ends up at the rear. At that moment, Badshaw reverses the Porsche, striking the victim.
“We published that video on Wednesday afternoon, and within 24 hours, it had been shared 95,000 times,” said Peel police Const. Tyler Bell. “This rapid sharing allowed us to receive numerous tips from the public, which helped us identify her quickly and prompted her to surrender to police.”
Bell described the theft as particularly “brazen” and noted that the victim could have suffered more severe injuries if not for “some luck and some physics.” He added that Badshaw is linked to multiple other investigations in Peel and is wanted by other police services in the Greater Toronto Area.
Badshaw has been charged with four offenses related to the theft of the Porsche, including theft of a motor vehicle and dangerous operation causing bodily harm.
“This case highlights the importance of home surveillance footage and the power of social media in law enforcement,” Bell remarked.
The investigation remains active, and police anticipate making additional arrests and charges as they continue their inquiries.