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CRIME ‘VERY SCARY SITUATION’ CARJACKINGS ON THE RISE IN HALTON DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com Halton police are warn- ing) residents about an in- ickings carja aeross the ¢ GTA — as well as here in Halton. In a recent media re- lease, police said people in- should be aware of their surroundings while enter- ing and exiting their vehi- cles and while driving. Const. Steve Elms noted that in 2021, there were just three carjackings in Hal- “already this year, there have n 10 carjackings anaes ‘with eight taking place in Oakville and one each in Burlington and Milton. No incidents have been reported in Halton Hills so far, and police hope to keep it that way. The re recent rash of car- jackings both in Halton and across the GTA is cer- tainly cause for great con- cern,” said Elms. "Local police services ve combined resources and established a task force to further co-ordi- nate law enforcement ef- forts in combating these crimes. Carjackings are of- ten violent and affect the Elms went on to say that the collaborative approach being taken by police tar- gets not just the criminals committing the carjack- ings, but the organized criminal groups behind “Those involved in the Halton incidents were of- ten armed and employed different techniques to ze- ro in on the cars they were after. During a Feb. 26 inci- dent, which occurred in Oakville at 11:30 p.m., two men approached the vic- tim after he pulled into his arivewray. said one man pointed agun and demand- ed keys to the victim's 2021 Audi QS5. ‘A May 31 incident in stalk a pizza delivery driv- er and rob him of his 2004 Acura TSX at gunpoint when he made a stop. A May 30 Oakville inci- dent, in which a woman ‘was carjacked by two men, was completely different in that it occurred at 3:45 p.m., in broad daylight, ina busy commercial parking lot. The men in that inci- dent made off with her 2020 Land Rover. Shots were actually fired during a March 30 carjacking in Oakville, though no one was hit. Elms said Halton police are not in a position to speculate on why carjack- ings are on the rise. Police have said that other vehicle theft meth- ods, like reprogramming thefts, can see a thief drive away with a vehicle in as little as three minutes without having to deal with the owner. Officers said the stolen high-end vehicles are often destined to be shipped overseas _ to their high resal le there, though sometimes stolen vehicles ised to commit other crimes. North Oakville Ward 7 Residents' Association president Nav Nanda said the recent carjackings are concerning. David Lea/Metroland North Oakville Ward 7 Residents’ Association president Nav Nanda is among those concerned with the rise in carjackings. She noted the neigh- bourhoods in her ward have already been a a rime target for car thi "We helda meeting with Halton police on how to prevent car thefts and we tt really involved with our stakeholders, trying to educate the public a little bit more on how to prevent car thefts," said Nanda. 'Now the bigger con- cern is these carjacking: because how do you no oR vent that? That is a very > The residents’ associa- tion leader is calling o1 those in her community tor be vigilant and said she i hopeful police will receive [ 5 IH UONEH - dl UL | 2 hether that through increased patrols § 5 in targeted areas or though ©, collaboration with other * 8 police forces. Nanda praised Halton police for their work in combating all forms of au- to theft, pointing to a re- cent operation that saw of- ficers make four arrests and recover 32 stolen vehi- "er alton police have re- ported some progress in their efforts to combat lo- cal carjackings, with two separate sets of arrests made earlier this month, including one in connec- tion with the incident were shots were fired. said anyone who finds themselves confront- carjacker should not fight back and just give up the vehicle. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With carjackings on the rise both across ihe GTA and in Haltoi wanted to share how p ‘police and residents feel about the matter and what mea. sures are being taken to combat the problem. ‘SCAN THESE CODES for details on recent carjacking arrests. eordyouy