Toronto police seeing ‘concerning increase’ in carjackings this year, detail more arrests

Toronto police say there has been a “concerning increase” in carjackings across the city this year, as they provided an update Tuesday on latest arrests and other suspects being sought in several investigations.

In one incident back on June 19, which occurred in the area of of Albion Road and Islington Avenue, police said two men approached a woman as she walked to her parked car. One of the men was armed and pointed a gun at her, demanding her keys. She handed over keys and then the two men fled in her vehicle. Police say the two men drove a short distance before stopping the vehicle and fleeing the area on foot.

The woman did not suffer any physical injuries.

At the time, police identified one of the suspects as 18-year-old Hamzah Hussein of Toronto.

In an update on Tuesday, police said officers arrested Hussein on September 30 and seized a loaded handgun and narcotics. Police also executed a search warrant at his home and confiscated additional narcotics and Canadian money.

He has been charged with Robbery with Firearm, Disguise With Intent, Possess Firearm With Ammunition, Unauthorized Possession of Firearm, Careless Storage of Firearm, Four counts of Possession Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession Proceeds of Crime Over, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over, and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under.

Police said the second suspect, described as male with a thin build, remains unidentified.

In an update on Tuesday, Insp. Rich Harris said 182 carjackings have been reported in the city so far this year. In comparison, there were 102 carjackings reported in all of last year.

“We continue to experience a concerning increase in carjackings. These robberies are not only happening in our city but are also taking place across the GTA,” he said.

“In some occasions were see high-end vehicles being stolen and we can definitely say they are being used for resale, for profit. In other cases, we’re seeing not so high-end vehicles being taken, we’re seeing them pop up in different types of crimes, other robberies, shooting investigations.”

Toronto police have formed a special task force to try and tackle the surge in carjackings.

One arrested, suspect identified in other carjacking investigations

Police say one woman has been arrested and they are searching for another female suspect after separate alleged carjackings in August and September.

Back on August 19, police said a 35-year-old man was in his vehicle in a parking lot in the area of Meadowvale Road and Sheppard Avenue East, when he was approached by a woman and two men who asked the man if he had booster cables. The man did not have booster cables and offered to drive them to a nearby location. Once they got into his vehicle, police say one of the male suspects, who was armed with a handgun, demanded the keys to his vehicle. The man got out of his vehicle and fled the area, taking his keys with him. The suspects fled the area on foot.

A short time later, police were called to another alleged carjacking incident at a nearby location. Police say a 27-year-old man drove this vehicle to a parking lot and a woman got into the front seat for a pre-arranged meeting. The victim drove the woman to a nearby location at which point two men got into the back of the vehicle, and one of the men, who was armed with a handgun, demanded the vehicle’s keys. The victim obliged and got out of the vehicle. The three suspects then fled the area in the victim’s vehicle.

In an update on Tuesday, police say two female suspects have been identified and one of them has since been arrested.

Police said officers searched a residence on September 29 and took the woman into custody. They also found clothing worn by the suspect during some of the alleged robberies.

Valerie Torres-Lizcano, 18, of Toronto, has been charged with several offences including three counts of Robbery With Firearm, Robbery With Offensive Weapon, four counts of Disguise With Intent, four counts of Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence, and two counts of Possession Property Obtained by Crime Over.

Police have released an image of the second suspect wanted for Robbery with an offensive weapon and Conspiracy to commit an Indictable Offence.

She has been identified as Jasmine Oung, 18, of York Region. Her photo is posted below.

Jasmine Oung, 18, of York Region, is wanted by police in connection with a carjacking investigation on Aug. 19, 2022. HANDOUT/Toronto Police Service

Police say the two female suspects are also linked to a separate incident in the area of Pharmacy Avenue and Sesame Street back on September 10. Police say the victim and two women drove to a parking lot for a pre-arranged meeting. When they arrived, two male suspects wearing masks approached them. One of them produced a knife and demanded their keys before making off with the victim’s car.

In that incident, a 16-year-old, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with robbery with an offensive weapon, disguise with intent, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, failing to comply with probation and two counts of possession of property obtained by crime.

Investigators also said that several hours before the incident on August 19, police responded to a robbery call in the Crosby Avenue and Yonge Street area of York Region. It is alleged that a victim was sitting in their parked car when two male suspects approached, and one male suspect pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded her vehicle. The victim got out of the car and the suspects fled in her vehicle.

Investigators were able to identify one of the male suspects and on September 15 executed a search warrant at the suspect’s home where police say clothing worn during the carjacking was also recovered.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was charged with three counts of Robbery With Firearm, three counts of Disguise With Intent, three counts of Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence, and nine counts of Fail to Comply Release Order.

Police have not yet identified any other suspects in connection to the incidents.

Man accused in separate carjacking wanted for removing ankle monitoring device

Investigators are also searching for a man who was arrested in connection with a carjacking but who had to wear an ankle monitoring device as a condition of his release from custody.

Back on June 26, police say a motorcyclist was cut off by a driver in the Islington Avenue and Millwick Drive who forced him to stop. The suspect got out of the car, pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded his motorcycle. The suspect got on and drove off in tandem with the car.

Sameer Ejaz 20, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with Robbery with a Firearm, Disguise with Intent, Weapons Dangerous, Carry Concealed Weapon, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000, Possess of Firearm other than Restricted or Prohibited, Firearm Without Holding a Licence, Possess Prohibited Firearm No Licence or Registration Certificate, Occupy Motor Vehicle with Firearm, Possess Loaded Regulated Firearm, and Possess Firearm Obtained by Crime.

Police say the the accused removed his ankle monitoring device and is now wanted for two counts of Fail to Comply with Release Order. See his photo below.

Police say Sameer Ejaz, 20, who is facing charges in connection with a carjacking on June 26, 2022, is wanted for removing ankle his monitoring device. HANDOUT/Toronto Police Service

With files from Lucas Casaletto and John Marchesan of CityNews