Three men from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) have been charged in connection with a series of carjacking incidents in Markham, according to police.
The first incident occurred on March 31, when a 25-year-old man was approached by two suspects while sitting in his vehicle in a parking lot on Woodbine Avenue. The suspects allegedly threatened the victim with a knife and demanded his car keys before fleeing the scene in his vehicle.
Less than a week later, on April 5, a 27-year-old man was sitting in his car in a parking lot on Highway 7 when he was approached by two suspects. The suspects allegedly assaulted the victim and stole his vehicle.
In both incidents, the stolen vehicles were later recovered by police.
Following an investigation, York Regional Police arrested three suspects on April 7. 20-year-old Jaden Pinnock, 19-year-old Javon Pinnock, and 18-year-old Jaden Williams, all from the GTA, have been charged with robbery, assault, and possession of stolen property.
Police believe that the suspects may be connected to other carjacking incidents in the GTA and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
“These types of crimes are extremely concerning and we are committed to holding those responsible accountable for their actions,” said Detective Sergeant Dave Mitchell in a statement.
The three suspects appeared in court on April 8 and have been remanded into custody. They are scheduled to appear in court again on April 15.
York Regional Police are reminding the public to be aware of their surroundings and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. They are also encouraging car owners to take precautions such as locking their doors and not leaving valuables in plain sight.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact York Regional Police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
