Police warn of uptick in violent crime
Auto theft in the GTA is becoming more brazen and violent, Toronto police said as they laid dozens of charges in a pair of carjackings of luxury vehicles.
“Criminals evolve,” Inspector Joseph Matys of the holdup squad said at a news conference on Tuesday, where police announced they made three arrests and laid 54 charges after a pair of carjackings.
Criminals are moving more toward violent carjackings and home invasions as GTA residents become more vigilant with car security, police said.
As they announced the three recent carjacking arrests, police said they also recovered a high-powered handgun that could easily be converted to fire automatically, like a machine gun.
There were more than 12,000 vehicles stolen in the GTA last year.
The method of theft is changing for the worse, police say.
Rather than sneak vehicles out of driveways in the night, an increasing number of criminals are choosing to violently confront car owners, police said.
“They’ve graduated,” Matys said. Police said that there were 45 violent carjackings from the beginning of 2024 until the second week of April, compared to 23 over the same time period last year.
One of the three charged was on bail after being charged with another carjacking in December, police said.
Police recovered the carjacked vehicles from the recent arrests; a 2024 BMW X5 valued at approximately $175,000 and a 2021 Lamborghini Urus valued at approximately $400,000.
Police also announced that three firearms and more than $18,000 in Canadian currency was seized.
A male, 21, of Mississauga, faces multiple charges, including Robbery With Firearm, Possess Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000, 11 counts of Assault with Intent to Resist Arrest, Possess Restricted or Prohibited Firearm Without Holding a Licence and Registration Certificate.
A male, 19, of Oakville, faces multiple charges, including has been charged with Possess Restricted or Prohibited Firearm Without Holding a Licence and Registration Certificate, Possess Loaded Regulated Firearm, Fail to Comply with Release Order and Breach of Probation.
A 17-year-old from Oshawa faces multiple charges, including Possess Restricted or Prohibited Firearm Without Holding a Licence and Registration Certificate, possession of a loaded, regulated firearm and Possess Proceeds of Property or Thing Obtained by Crime/Not Exceeding $5,000.