Peel police arrest 8 adults, 5 youths in alleged crime ring behind home invasions

Police say they have arrested 13 people and laid 197 charges following an investigation into a string of home invasions and robberies in the Greater Toronto Area allegedly connected to organized crime.

During the investigation, dubbed "Project Ghost," police recovered one-third of a total of $1.8 million of property stolen in the home invasions, including luxury vehicles and jewelry, Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich announced at a news conference Tuesday.

"Project Ghost should also serve as a reminder to the people who target our community and try to do similar activities that it's not welcome in Peel," he said. "Our community doesn't accept it. Our police service doesn't accept it."

Police arrested eight adults between the ages of 20 and 25, as well as five youths. All of the accused are from Toronto, Mississauga or Brampton, police said. 

They now face nearly 200 charges combined, including committing an offence for a criminal organization, trafficking in firearms and stolen property and robberies and thefts. Police said no firearms were recovered.

The alleged organized crime ring was run by adults who were recruiting young people from the community to execute the dangerous crimes, Milinovich said. The five youths arrested during the investigation range in age from 15 to 17.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown called the alleged exploitation of minors "absolutely disgusting."

"Organized crime is not just a big city problem, it's not just something you see in movies, it's here," he said Tuesday. "If you bring violence to our neighbourhoods, if you exploit youth and if you think you can act with impunity, think again."

The accused were held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton, and five have been granted bail, police said.

Police describe harrowing home invasions

The arrests come after police identified and linked a dozen incidents of home invasions to the same group, said Det. Jeff Chamula.

The first incident took place back in August of last year, when three suspects attempted to break into a Brampton home where a BMW was parked in the driveway, said Chamula. After failing to gain entrance, the suspects fled in a white Acura. 

Thirty minutes later, the suspects broke into another home and demanded keys to a Mercedes Benz, he said. Although the three victims complied, Chamula said they were stabbed and one was left in critical condition.

Chamula described a second incident in September, which left the driver of a Lamborghini with serious injuries after they were shot during an attempted robbery in Mississauga. 

Millinovich said he's been listening to impact statements from victims, and "one of them shared that this experience was a violation of their life, their peace and their freedom."

The investigation included a series of co-ordinated search warrants and arrests involving approximately 200 officers which took place in Peel Region, Toronto and Waterloo last month, police said.

Brown said families in Peel region deserve to feel safe. 

"These were not random acts. This was organized crime. It was deliberate, it was violent and it was terrifying for the victims involved," he said. "I think we're all going to sleep a little bit better tonight."