Six people have been arrested as a result of an investigation into carjacking and pharmacy robbery, and more than $980,000 in stolen property has been recovered.
Over the course of five months, Project Repeater was carried out in an effort to identify the criminals and those behind the scenes orchestrating the activities.
Seven carjacking robberies, two vehicle thefts, 23 pharmacy robberies, and two financial institution robberies were attended to by officers from Toronto, Peel, York, and Halton Police Services and the Ontario Provincial Police between August 21, 2022 and March 18, 2023.
On April 5, Hold Up Squad Inspector Richard Harris stated at a press conference held at Police headquarters that the suspects had stolen high-end automobiles, such as Cadillac Escalades, various Porsche models, and Land Rovers.
“The gathering utilized taken vehicles and, at times, handguns, blades or actual viciousness while perpetrating the violations,” he said.
Seven search warrants were executed on March 30 by Hold Up Squad members, other TPS units, and regional partners.
Amir Iyat, 29, Shais Ejaz, 25, and Mohamad Habib, 32, and Kausar Rahimzada, 21, all of Toronto, were the four suspects who were apprehended.
In December 2022 and January 2023, respectively, Steven Singh, a 22-year-old from Brampton, and a 15-year-old from Toronto were taken into custody.
During the course of the search, according to Harris, a keyless repeater device, multiple key fobs, and nine automobiles were located.
Harris said the seven vehicles recuperated were found west of the city through GPS innovation and astounding police work.
He added, “The number of carjackings and pharmacy robberies in our city continues to concern Toronto Police.” We suggest that pharmacies, if at all possible, purchase time-delayed safes, panic alarms, and high-quality surveillance cameras. Additionally, ensure that those safes are always locked.
Additionally, when confronted, he advised motorists to prioritize their own safety.
Please surrender your vehicle in the event of a theft attempt, as a reminder. Try not to contend or battle. He stated, “Your safety is worth more than a car.”
This joint TPS investigation was aided by Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, which received funding from the province.
There have been 23 carjackings and 54 pharmacy robberies thus far this year, and anyone with information is asked to contact the police at 416-808-7350 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or www.222tips.com.
This year, 191 robberies have been solved by police, with a 40% success rate.
