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Between April and May, officers looked into three incidents where the robbers used social media — typically Snapchat — to arrange in-person meetings under “false pretences,” according to a . The victims were allegedly met with violence and robbed, sometimes with a gun present, police added. Two of the victims were taken to hospital for their injuries.

Many of the victims were “particularly vulnerable” because they wanted to keep their sexuality discreet or had not publicly come out, Cst. Tyler Bell-Morena told media on Wednesday.

Two people — a 20-year-old man from Brampton and a 21-year-old man from Mississauga — were arrested in late May and charged with a total of nine offences, including kidnapping, robbery with a firearm and fraud.

Through the investigation, police identified six more suspects who they said “relied on false pretences to target South Asians, including members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and lure them into meeting.”

The kidnapping charges were laid because the suspects allegedly forcibly took victims to a secondary location, sometimes taking over the vehicle the victim was driving, Bell-Morena said.

Officers searched multiple homes throughout Peel Region and arrested an 18-year-old man, as well as two boys aged 16 and 17. All three have been charged with two counts of kidnapping and three counts of robbery. 

Police have sought a search warrant to arrest a 20-year-old man from Mississauga on the same charges. 

The Crown Attorney’s Office is being consulted about any potential hate-motivated charges that may be laid in the future.

Investigators said they believe there may be additional victims who have not come forward out of fear but are assuring them they will prioritize protecting the identity and well-being of all victims.

Anyone with information is urged to call investigators at 905-453-2121 extension 2133 or they can reach out anonymously through Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.