Two Toronto teenagers who allegedly attempted to steal a dozen cars at gunpoint during an 11-day spree are now under arrest, police say.
Between May 15 and May 26, two males armed with handguns attempted to steal 10 vehicles in Scarborough and two in Durham Region, according to Insp. Richard Harris.
During the alleged incidents, a male suspect would approach a victim with a gun while demanding their car keys. At least one other male suspect would wait nearby in a getaway car.
In five of the incidents the suspects were successful in taking the victims’ vehicles. Fortunately, none of the car owners were injured, though police say the crimes still had an impact on the victims.
“One can only hazard a guess the psychological impacts,” Harris told Global News. “Communities on a whole are fed up with this.”
Police also allege that the pair committed a retail robbery at a fireworks pop-up stand and stole cash and fireworks at gunpoint.
As part of an operation dubbed Project ZigZag, investigators were able to identify two suspects who were seen traveling in one of the stolen vehicles. They were taken into custody. All the carjacked vehicles were also successfully recovered.
According to Harris, the vehicles taken were “not high end” but “intended to be used to commit other criminal offences.” But he said there was no evidence to suggest ties to organized crime.
Brampton resident Tyliq Jones, 19 is charged with 44 offences, while a 17-year-old boy is facing 56 charges.
Among the charges are robbery with firearm, disguise with intent, unauthorized possession of firearm, possession of firearm in motor vehicle, and firearm obtained by crime.
Due to a recent uptick in car jackings in the GTA, police has changed the way they respond to reports of the crimes. “We’ve basically augmented the way we respond to carjackings as well, where there’s a team at that Hold Up Squad that exclusively investigates carjackings,” Harris said.
Last month, Toronto Maple Leafs star had his Range Rover stolen at gunpoint in Etobicoke.
