Ajax teen among three charged in carjacking
Published April 16, 2024 at 4:13 pm
An Ajax teen is among three charged in connection to a Markham carjacking.
Per York Regional Police, a woman was walking to her car in a parking lot near Yonge Street and Glen Cameron Road around 2 a.m. on April 6.
The area is a major thoroughfare with large apartment buildings on the west of Yonge Street and a large plaza and restaurants to the east.
As the woman reached her car, a man grabbed her and pulled her away, police say. A second man got in the car while the woman’s husband came to her aid.
The pair managed to get in the car and tried to take off. However, police say, they crashed into another car in the parking lot. They then fled to a waiting getaway car in which a third man was driving. All three men were masked.
Police later learned the getaway car had been stolen from Peel Region on April 1, though they did not specify where from.
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Investigators found the stolen getaway car on April 13. Police claim three people were inside the car who allegedly tried to flee on foot.
Three people were arrested after a brief chase. One of the three was armed with a pistol and an illegal extended magazine, police allege.
Three teens are charged including;
- Poshur Williams, 18, of Toronto
- a 16-year-old male, of Ajax and
- a 17-year-old male, of Toronto
Each faces a charge of conspiracy to commit an offence, disguise with intent to commit an offence, possession of a loaded gun, possession of the extended magazine and possession of stolen property.
Additionally, police say Williams was on a release order due to unrelated charges.
Anyone with information relevant to the case can call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS
York Police also offered some advice about how to avoid a carjacking and what to do if one occurs;
- “Be aware of your surroundings at all times, even in places you feel safe
- Stay vigilant at public garages, parking lots, gas stations and at controlled intersections
- Keep your vehicle keys and house keys on separate key rings
- Invest in GPS tracking or vehicle tracking services
- Do not leave your vehicle running unattended
- If you are the victim of a carjacking, avoid challenging the suspects.
- Obtain the best descriptions you can and call 9-1-1 when safe to do so”
Carjacking have been on a steady rise across the GTA in recent months. This prompted a new provincial car theft task force last fall which includes the Durham, Halton, Peel and York Police Services.
By January the task force had filed more than 550 charges in more than 100 theft cases.
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