Toronto’s carjacking woes continue, and the city’s police force, Toronto Police Service (TPS), is facing criticism for its response. In a move that some see as dismissive, TPS advised residents to leave key fobs downstairs to deter confrontation during break-ins. Meanwhile, York Regional Police (YRP), patrolling the greater Toronto area just north of the city, is sending a very different message.
A video of a spectacular takedown of alleged armed carjackers was released by the YRP. Officers are using at least four police cars to surround the suspect’s car, brandishing flashbangs, and the entire scene looks like it could be from a “Rainbow Six” video game.
According to a YRP press release, the action began on April 6th when three individuals attempted to steal a Mercedes GLC. Thankfully, the owner and her spouse fought back, forcing the would-be thieves to retreat to a stolen white Acura RDX. This Acura itself had been reported stolen just a week prior.
The plot takes another turn as the same Acura is used in a successful theft of a “blue BMW” in Toronto the very next day. Fortunately, those suspects met their end after crashing into Toronto Police vehicles during a pursuit, and were subsequently apprehended by TPS on April 12th, 2024.
Picking up where the initial footage left off, on April 13th, YRP officers, along with their Emergency Response Unit (ERU, essentially a SWAT team), located the stolen Acura and moved in to make the arrest. The YRP press release describes the scene: “They utilized flashbangs, a distraction device that produces a flash of light and loud noises.” The video shows the three suspects fleeing on foot after the detonation, discarding what police allege to be a loaded firearm.
Following their arrest, the three males, ages sixteen, fifteen, and eighteen, were charged with numerous offenses involving weapons and pilfered goods. However, the YRP is asking the public to come forward with any information they may have, believing that there are still accomplices from the same “criminal network” at large.
This incident highlights the contrasting approaches taken by Toronto’s police forces. While TPS faces criticism for its seemingly passive stance, York Regional Police is demonstrating a strong willingness to take decisive action against carjackers. It remains to be seen how these differing tactics will play out in the fight against Toronto’s carjacking epidemic.