Shootings, Carjackings in York Region Nearly Double Since January: Police Chief

York Regional Police say the region has seen a 92 percent increase in shootings and a 106 percent increase in carjackings since January. “The trend in violent crime is a major concern, and will continue to be a top priority for York Regional Police for the remaining months of 2024 and will continue to be as we move into 2025,” Police Chief Jim MacSween said during an Aug. 27 press conference. MacSween said there have been 15 homicides and 46 carjacking incidents since January, and an almost 400 percent increase in carjackings since 2019. The police chief said illegal handguns have become “all too easy” for criminals to access, with many of the firearms being smuggled across the Canada-U.S. border and used to commit “a number of offences.” He also said organized criminals have caused the nationwide increase in conflicts in the tow-truck industry, with companies using gun violence and arson as a way to threaten their rivals....