3 Brampton men charged in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies across the GTA
Published April 5, 2023 at 1:25 pm
Three Brampton men are among six people charged in a string of violent pharmacy robberies, carjackings and car thefts.
The charges come after a months-long investigation dubbed “Project Repeater”.
Over $980,000 in stolen property was recovered in the investigation into a series of carjackings, pharmacy robberies, and financial institution robberies, said Toronto Police Inspector Rich Harris in a press conference today (April 5).
Harris called the culprits “brazen” and they used a number of tactics including “blitzing” or intentional damage to cars to lure the drivers out of their vehicles.
“This is alleged to be a very violent group of individuals who ply their trade in many areas,” said Harris.
The crimes took place between Aug. 21, 2022 and March 18, 2023, and involved officers from Toronto, Peel, York and Halton Regions, and the Ontario Provincial Police.
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The investigation includes seven carjacking robberies, two thefts of motor vehicles, 23 pharmacy robberies and two financial institution robbery calls.
Toronto Police allege the group travelled in stolen vehicles when committing the crimes.
In the majority of incidents, they used handguns and in others, they used a knife or physical violence to control the victims.
They approached vehicles pointing a handgun at the occupant(s) while demanding their keys, vehicle and property. And they drove away from each scene in the victim’s stolen vehicle.
In the pharmacies, the culprits committed “takeover-style robberies”, making demands for both cash and narcotics — in particular looking for opiates. After the robberies, the group fled to an awaiting vehicle.
Excellent collaboration amongst partner agencies working towards community safety as our common goal. #PRP Central Robbery @PeelPolice also laid 27 criminal charges in relation to 10 armed robberies targeting pharmacies and currency exchanges. For more: https://t.co/8AGpREGVSz https://t.co/CvvhlYapHv
— Sean Brennan (@InspBrennan) April 5, 2023
The three Brampton men charged are:
Amir Inyat, 29, faces 28 counts of Robbery With Firearm, 4 counts of Robbery, 2 counts of Theft of Motor Vehicle, Possession Property Obtained by Crime – Over ($5,000), 33 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence, and three counts of Fail to Comply – Release Order.
Shais Ejaz, 25, faces six counts of Robbery with Firearm, Robbery, Theft of Motor Vehicle, and eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence.
Steven Singh, 22, faces four counts of Robbery With Firearm, Theft of Motor Vehicle, and 15 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence.
Singh was already in custody and facing previous charges in a Peel Regional Police investigation of 10 armed robberies in Mississauga and Brampton.
Toronto residents Mohammad Habib, 32, Kausar Rahimzada, 21, and a 15-year-old boy also face charges in connection with the investigation.
All four men and the 21-year-old woman were scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing in Toronto.
Project Repeater was a collaborative multi-jurisdictional investigation including the Toronto Police Hold Up Squad, Peel Region Central Robbery Bureau, York Region Hold Up Squad, Halton Region Robbery Unit and the OPP – Caledon Major Crime and Community Street Crime units.
Police are still looking for two stolen vehicles — a black 2022 Cadillac Escalade with the Ontario licence plate CHDRYSB; and a black 2022 Dodge Durango with Ontario licence plate CYDM878.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents can contact investigators with the Central Robbery Bureau at (905)453-2121 ext. 3410. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.
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