York Regional Police have released a video showing the arrest of two suspects who allegedly stole a Mercedes from Richmond Hill, the latest in a series of armed vehicle thefts that have resulted in police services in the Richmond Hill area. Greater Toronto create a car theft task force.
YRP announced Friday that it is leading the task force, which includes Toronto Police, Peel Police, Durham Police, Ontario Provincial Police and the Ontario Criminal Intelligence Service.
“This working group will further coordinate law enforcement efforts across the GTA to combat the problem,” YRP said in a statement.
The announcement comes when YRP said they made arrests in connection with a car theft in Richmond Hill on Wednesday evening.
Police said a driver was sitting in his Mercedes in a parking lot in the plaza area of Leslie Street and Green Hill when two gunmen approached him.
The suspects assaulted the driver and stole his watch, wallet and mobile phone before fleeing the scene with his vehicle, police said.
A police helicopter tracked down the suspects and the stolen vehicle to a Toronto address.
YRP posted the video of the arrest captured from its Air2 helicopter on YouTube. The helicopter was able to locate the vehicle parked on a dead end street.
“I can’t say 100% is the vehicle, but I would say this is 95% similar,” a police officer can be heard in the video. Then two people are seen getting out of the vehicle.
The video then jumps to when police arrived on a driveway from a house where the suspects were.
“They’re going to run, they’re going to run,” an agent is heard saying in the video.
The two suspects are seen running, jumping fences and running through the backyards to escape arrest.
However, shortly afterwards, police are seen arresting the two suspects.
Police said two 19-year-olds were arrested and charged with robbery with a firearm, intentional disguise and possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm.
Police continue to ask anyone with information to contact the detention unit at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 6631 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.
There has been an increase in incidents of armed car theft in the GTA this month. Among the victims was Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner, whose Range Rover was stolen at gunpoint outside an Etobicoke movie theater.
This week, Toronto police and Durham police responded to six car theft incidents between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. Later that night, two gunmen stole an SUV from a Brampton road.
The eruption of violent car thefts in Toronto prompted Mayor John Tory to send a letter last week to his federal and provincial counterparts, asking for help in dealing with the incidents.
“This situation and the trend line can’t continue, and I’m writing to ask for your help,” he wrote. “I am confident that working together, the three levels of government will work together