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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ne 16 ,2 02 2 | 12 Book a tour and join us for lunch or dinner. It's a perfect time to make a fresh start. At Amica Bronte Harbour, you'll find the premium lifestyle you're looking for, the social connections you want and care personalized to your needs. Find out how Amica can help you make this a season of opportunities. 160 B RON T E R D A M IC A .C A / B RON T E H A R B OU R CALL DIANNE AT 905-842-8167 TODAY RESET. REFRESH.RECONNECT. in 2021, there were just three carjackings in Halton. Already this year, as of June 9, there have been 10 carjackings reported, with eight taking place in Oakville and one each in Burlington and Milton. No incidents have been reported in Hal- ton Hills so far, and police hope to keep it that way. "The recent rash of carjackings both in Halton and across the GTA is certainly cause for great concern," said Elms. "Local police services have combined resources and established a task force to further co-ordinate law enforcement ef- forts in combating these crimes. Carjack- ings are often violent and affect the larger community, as well as the victims in- volved." Elms went on to say that the collabora- tive approach being taken by police targets not just the criminals committing the car- jackings, but the organized criminal groups behind them. Those involved in the Halton incidents were often armed and employed different techniques to zero in on the cars they were after. During a Feb. 26 incident, which oc- curred in Oakville at 11:30 p.m., two men approached the victim after he pulled into his driveway. Police said one man pointed a gun and demanded keys to the victim's 2021 Audi QS5. A May 31 incident in Milton, which oc- curred at 11 p.m., saw carjackers stalk a pizza delivery driver and rob him of his 2004 Acura TSX at gunpoint when he made a stop. A May 30 Oakville incident, in which a woman was carjacked by two men, was completely different in that it occurred at 3:45 p.m., in broad daylight, in a busy com- mercial parking lot. The men in that incident made off with her 2020 Land Rover. Shots were actually fired during a March 30 carjacking in Oakville, though no one was hit. Elms said Halton police are not in a po- sition to speculate on why carjackings are on the rise. Police have said that other vehicle theft methods, like reprogramming thefts, can see a thief drive away with a vehicle in as little as three minutes without having to deal with the owner. Officers said the stolen high-end vehi- cles are often destined to be shipped over- seas due to their high resale value there, though sometimes stolen vehicles are used to commit other crimes. North Oakville Ward 7 Residents' Asso- ciation president Nav Nanda said the re- cent carjackings are concerning. She noted the neighbourhoods in her ward have already been a prime target for car thieves. "We held a meeting with Halton police on how to prevent car thefts and we got re- ally involved with our stakeholders, try- ing to educate the public a little bit more on how to prevent car thefts," said Nanda. "Now the bigger concern is these car- jackings because how do you prevent that? That is a very scary situation." The residents' association leader is call- ing on those in her community to be vigi- lant and said she is hopeful police will re- ceive the resources they need to get this problem under control, whether that be through increased patrols in targeted ar- eas or though collaboration with other po- lice forces. Nanda praised Halton police for their work in combating all forms of auto theft, pointing to a recent operation that saw offi- cers make four arrests and recover 32 sto- len vehicles. On June 7, Halton police reported some progress in their efforts to combat local carjackings with the arrest of three men who officers allege were behind three Oak- ville carjackings between May 27 and June 3. None of the charges have been proven in court. Elms said anyone who finds themselves confronted by a carjacker should not fight back and just give up the vehicle. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With carjackings on the rise both across the GTA and in Halton, we wanted to share how police and residents feel about the matter and what measures are being tak- en to combat the problem. MANY STOLEN VEHICLES SHIPPED OVERSEAS: POLICE Continued from front North Oakville Ward 7 Residents' Association president Nav Nanda is among those concerned with the rise in carjackings. David Lea/Metroland CRIME