Four people have been arrested and multiple suspects are at large聽after a co-ordinated聽kidnapping and home invasion in Markham on Monday.
A聽29-year-old woman was driving when she was intentionally hit by a vehicle around聽聽at about 8 a.m., according to York investigators. She got out of the vehicle out to check the damage when a second vehicle drove up; suspects forced her inside and restrained her while they fled the scene, according to investigators.聽
A short distance away, police received reports that multiple suspects broke into a home near聽聽just before 9 a.m., where the woman lived. Suspects told the family that one of their relatives had been kidnapped. A聽54-year-old man was shot during the incident, officers said in a news release Wednesday, without giving details about his injuries.
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Officers arrived at the home and arrested four suspects as they tried running away and found a loaded gun and stolen vehicle. Police found the kidnapping victim in 色色啦 with minor injuries, and her vehicle was found nearby.聽
Investigators believe聽there are still multiple outstanding suspects connected to both the home invasion and kidnapping but have only released a description for a fifth suspect.聽He is described as an 18- to 25-year-old man wearing dark clothing, a mask and gloves.聽
A 21-year-old from Ajax,聽a 20-year-old from Brampton聽and 17- and 16-year-old boys from 色色啦 and Caledon, respectively, were arrested and face several charges including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and possession of a restricted firearm knowingly not holding a licence.
The news release came among a slew of updates on violent crimes across York Region this past week, a pattern officers say is concerning.聽
聽鈥淲e鈥檙e also seeing another disturbing trend: A spike in violent crime committed by youths. As young people continue to be recruited and exploited by criminal networks, York Regional Police is working hard to disrupt and dismantle these criminal organizations,鈥 said Chief Jim MacSween, speaking broadly about a recent spate of incidents.
鈥淏ut as they say, it takes a village and it鈥檚 up to the entire community including institutions and families to ensure our kids have positive influences and opportunities to keep them away from crime and on a path to success. And if they do get into trouble we need to be sure they are being rehabbed effectively so they don鈥檛 reoffend.鈥
York police’s holdup unit is leading the investigation and they are asking people with information to contact them at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630. People can send in tips anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS or at .
Kristjan Lautens is a staff reporter, working out of the Star鈥檚
radio room in 色色啦. Reach him via email: klautens@thestar.ca
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