Police are investigating four more carjackings that happened overnight in Scarborough as a string of such thefts continues across the GTA.
The latest incidents happened within a two-hour period from 11:44 p.m. to 1:15 a.m.
Two of the drivers who were targeted lost their vehicles to the thieves.
Here is a timeline of what happened:
At 11:44 p.m. police say a victim was in their driveway beside their vehicle close to McLevin Ave. and Greenspire Rd. when a man approached with a handgun and demanded the vehicle.
The suspect fled empty-handed.
Just five minutes later at 11:49 p.m. a driver was in their vehicle in their driveway close to Morningside Ave. and Sheppard Ave. East area when a man approached with a firearm and demanded the vehicle.
The suspect fled in the victim’s vehicle.
Just 43 minutes later at 12:32 a.m., another one.
The victim was parking their vehicle near Kennedy Rd. and Glamorgan Ave. area when a man approached, produced a handgun and demanded the vehicle.
The suspect fled in the victim’s vehicle.
And 43 minutes after that – at 1:15 a.m. – the latest victim in this spree was in their driveway near Pharmacy Ave. and McNicoll Ave. when a man approached, produced a firearm and demanded the vehicle.
That suspect also fled the area empty-handed.
No injuries were reported in the four carjackings which police believe are related.
Police have not yet released any suspect or vehicle descriptions and say they are actively investigating.
Last week, a stretch of Sheppard Ave. had three carjackings – which police also consider linked.
Wednesday, Chief James Ramer announced a special organized crime unit to tackle the growing problem.
“We are reassigning officers to this team to enhance our specialized investigative capacity so we can adapt and address current increases in crime including auto theft and carjackings. The latter of which can put residents in harm’s way when a weapon is used,” said Chief Ramer said in a statement Wednesday.
In recent weeks, the number of gunpoint carjackings has surged – some in broad daylight in front of people’s homes or in retail parking lots.
One involved Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Mitch Marner who had his Range Rover stolen at gunpoint while he was in the parking lot of a cinema at Islington Ave. and the Gardiner Expressway.
The latest figures – which do not account for the overnight incidents – show 94 carjackings this year – compared with 102 in all of 2021.
More than 39 arrests have been made so far – with suspects allegedly linked to multiple incidents.