Carjackings leave people afraid in their own driveways, in grocery store parking lots and at red lights. Many of us saw the videos that spread through our community: drivers attacked in broad daylight, sometimes at knifepoint or gunpoint, all over a car. Some victims ended up in hospital. Many more still carry that fear.
These are not property crimes. They are violent attacks on people going about their day, and many are carried out by organized networks that treat our streets as a source of profit.
Project High Guard went after one of those networks. Police allege it was behind 21 violent carjackings and high end vehicle thefts across the GTA between June 2025 and April 2026. Peel Regional Police’s Central Robbery Bureau ran the investigation for eight months. Here is what it produced:
- 10 people arrested, facing 128 charges, including participating in a criminal organization
- 15 stolen vehicles recovered, worth about $1.4 million. One was found at the Port of Montreal waiting to be shipped overseas
- 4 illegal firearms seized, including two assault style rifles, plus ammunition, drugs and devices used to reprogram stolen vehicles
Police allege this was an organized operation where everyone had a role. Some picked the targets, some coordinated, some carried out the robberies, some recruited younger people and some sold the cars. Several of the accused were already before the courts and on release conditions when they were arrested.
The trend is moving the right way. Since auto theft peaked in 2023, thefts in Peel are down more than 50% and carjackings are down 64%. That came from real changes: Peel doubled its auto theft unit, pushed for scanners at rail yards and ports, and led the call for federal bail reform. But one carjacking is still one too many, and we need a justice system that keeps repeat violent offenders off our streets.
Thank you to Chief Duraiappah, Deputy Chief Nick, Detective Sergeant Earl Scott and the Central Robbery Bureau team. Thank you also to the OPP, Toronto, Halton and Hamilton Police, Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario and the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
Read the full Peel Regional Police media release for more details on the investigation.
If you have information, call the Central Robbery Bureau at 905‑453‑2121 ext. 3410.
“Behind every carjacking is a person whose sense of safety has been violated. Today public safety wins and accountability wins. Criminality does not win the day in Peel Region. No matter how long it takes, those who commit crimes here will be held accountable.”
Mayor Patrick Brown
