WARMINGTON: Peel cops collar 'Unlucky Seven' in epic armed carjacking chase and takedown
Masked car thieves likely thought they had got away until Peel cops arrested suspects
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Seven up and seven down.
But for a minute there, these alleged masked bandits were in seventh heaven, as they likely thought they had gotten away with another Mercedes to sell for huge profit offshore.
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WARMINGTON: Peel cops collar 'Unlucky Seven' in epic armed carjacking chase and takedown Back to video
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Car thieves have become so used to getting away with their violent crimes that they think they can do anything they want, and surely these suspects didn’t see all seven of them ending up in a courtroom in the prisoner’s box.
Sometimes, however, the bad guys don’t always win. Sometimes crime doesn’t pay, and sometimes it’s the carjackers who get jacked.
If the allegations against them are true, this is one of those times.
It all started last Thursday, Feb. 6 at 12:35 a.m. at Queen St. E. and Highway 50 in Brampton. A victim was going to his high-end car when police say “multiple suspects” approached the driver and produced a handgun to persuade him to hand over the keys.
He did. And they took off and thought they had another easy score.
Not this time. Peel Regional Police Service’s Central Robbery Bureau got the call and got on the case quickly. Const. Richard Chin noted: “Investigators were able to track the stolen vehicle into Toronto, where it was being loaded into a transport truck” and it was driven into York Region where officers pulled it over.
Oh, to see the looks on their faces. They didn’t see that coming.
“After a lengthy foot pursuit and with the assistance of York Regional Police, these alleged criminals were arrested and charged,” Chin said in a video posted Wednesday by Peel Regional Police.
Six suspects were caught right there and a seventh was later charged, as well. It’s nice when this happens. Every time a car like this is stolen, insurance rates go up, and the law-abiding public has to pay the price over and over again.
“This is another example of a very clear message,” alleged Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich. “Carjackings are violent crimes committed by violent criminals. Our community will not tolerate it, nor will our police service. Criminals who ignore this message can expect to be arrested and charged.”
Pherel Esprit, 20, of Brampton, is charged with robbery, disguise with intent, use imitation firearm while committing an offence.
Amine Benhadjoudja, 23, of Woodbridge, has the same charges but also a “fail to comply with recognizance” added on.
Malike Jones, 20, has the same charges with “obstruct police officer” added, while Prabjot Singh, 33, of Brampton, who police allege was the transport truck operator, was hit with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime.
There are also two 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old charged with multiple counts.
None of the charges have been tested in court, and all are considered to be innocent until proven guilty.
At least they will end up in court and have a proceeding. This is the result of some excellent policing by Peel Regional Police detectives who not only managed to slow down a major crime in action but also an alleged car theft ring.
Just call them the unlucky seven.
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