Three arrests have been made in relation to a series of carjackings in Oakville that targeted Range Rovers.
The men arrested had been observed allegedly preparing to conduct another carjacking when the Halton Regional Police Service officers intervened.
Carjackings have been on the rise in the GTA, and Halton Police are advising members of the community to be cognizant of your surroundings while entering/exiting your vehicle and while driving.
If you're a victim of a carjacking, get to a safe place and call 911.
More information is available in the press release included below:
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has arrested three males in relation to a series of carjackings in Oakville.
On May 27, May 30, and June 3, 2022, three separate carjackings took place at different locations in Oakville (Oakville Entertainment Centrum – 2091 Winston Churchill Boulevard, Dorval Crossing plaza – 200 North Service Road West and the plaza at 525 Iroquois Shore Road respectively). The suspects targeted newer model Range Rover vehicles that were parked in commercial parking lots. Through a variety of investigative techniques, officers from the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau (CIB) were able to identify individuals involved.
On June 6, 2022, one of the suspect vehicles was observed in the area of Sherway Gardens Mall in Etobicoke. The occupants of the vehicle appeared to be preparing to conduct another carjacking of a Range Rover at the mall. At that time, HRPS officers intervened and arrested three male occupants.
Marcolammar Layne (22) of Welland has been charged with:
- Robbery, Disguise with Intent and Fail to Comply with Release Order (May 27 incident)
- Robbery, Disguise with Intent, and Fail to Comply with Release Order (May 30 incident)
- Robbery with a Firearm, Disguise with Intent and Fail to Comply with Release Order (June 3 incident)
- Attempt Robbery, Disguise with Intent, Flight from Police, and Fail to Comply with Release Order (June 6 incident)
Jayden Mesquita (21) of North York has been charged with:
- Robbery and Disguise with Intent (May 27 incident)
- Robbery and Disguise with Intent (May 30 incident)
- Attempt Robbery, Disguise with Intent and Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence (June 6 incident)
Augustus Francois (21) of Toronto has been charged with:
- Robbery, Disguise with Intent and Flight From Police (June 6 incident)
All three accused were held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Individuals involved in carjackings target high-end vehicles. HRPS wants to remind members of the community to be cognizant of your surroundings while entering/exiting your vehicle and while driving. If you find yourself a victim of a carjacking, protect yourself and do not try and fight with the suspects. They are often armed and can be violent. Get to a safe place and call 911.
As a result of the increase in carjacking incidents across the Greater Toronto Area, local police services have combined resources and established a task force to further co-ordinate law enforcement efforts in combating these crimes. Carjackings are often violent and affect the larger community, as well as the victims involved. This collaborative approach targets the criminals committing carjackings as well as the organized criminal groups behind them.
Participating services include York Regional Police, the Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Durham Regional Police Service and the Halton Regional Police Service, supported by Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2216.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. "See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers" at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
