3 arrested in ‘violent carjackings’ across Durham Region

Three males, including two youths, are facing charges in a series of violent carjackings in Durham Region.

Durham Regional Police were notified of the first carjacking just after midnight on September 29 in the Audley Road and Rossland Road East area in Ajax.

It’s alleged two suspects approached the occupants of a vehicle and forcefully removed them. Police said the victims were assaulted before the suspects fled in the stolen car.

That same day, at approximately 8:30 p.m., police said three suspects were in the Oklahoma Drive and Whites Road South area in Pickering, where they forcefully removed a food delivery driver from a grey Toyota Rav-4.

The driver was assaulted before the three suspects fled the area in his vehicle.

With assistance from GTA police forces, including Toronto police and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), on October 1, authorities conducted a takedown of the stolen Toyota Rav-4.

Durham police said three suspects fled on foot from the vehicle, and a fourth was arrested in the front passenger seat. Two of the suspects were arrested a short distance away. The fourth suspect remains wanted.

One man was identified as 18-year-old Carl Pitt of Toronto, who was charged with robbery with violence and disguise with intent.

Two male youths, aged 17 and 15 and both of Markham, face similar offences. They were not identified as a result of the province’s Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).

All three were held on bail. Police did not provide a description of the fourth wanted suspect.

On Monday, OPP announced it has joined with its GTA counterparts to form a provincial task force to address the rise in carjackings. 

The police forces say there have been more than 300 carjackings in the GTA this year, with over 200 of those taking place in Toronto.