One arrested, four sought after violent carjackings and armed robbery in Windsor

A crime spree over the weekend saw one victim with serious injuries, a teenager arrested, and four suspects still at large. CTV Windsor’s Sanjay Maru has the de

Windsor police say one suspect has been arrested and four others remain wanted after two violent carjackings and an armed robbery that unfolded over the weekend.

Investigators now believe an armed carjacking Friday night in the city’s west end is connected to another carjacking and a robbery Saturday evening.

Police said the crime spree began late Friday, when a man walking toward his vehicle in the 1700 block of University Avenue West was approached by five suspects. One of them allegedly pointed what appeared to be a firearm and demanded his belongings before taking off with his 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. No injuries were reported.

“It’s very scary. This is a student area,” said Shraddha Jariwala, who runs a business on University Avenue West.

“We have a lot of customers coming with their kids. I can’t believe this happened in this area.”

Around 11 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to another carjacking in the 1300 block of Division Road. Police said a man was forcibly removed from his 2019 Chevrolet Traverse, assaulted and robbed of his wallet, identification, bank cards, and cellphone. He was taken to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Shortly after taking the Traverse, investigators said the suspects robbed a group of teenagers at gunpoint in the area of Magnolia Avenue and Harrogate Street. A firearm and knife were reportedly brandished, and one victim was pushed to the ground and struck several times.

Officers located the stolen Jetta at the Division Road scene, linking both carjackings.

In the early morning hours Sunday, the stolen Traverse was found in Chatham after a collision. A 15-year-old male was arrested inside and later identified as one of the individuals involved in both carjackings, police said.

The youth, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with robbery with a firearm, robbery, pointing a firearm, assault with a weapon, aggravated assault, using a firearm during the commission of an offence, possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, theft of a motor vehicle and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

The remaining four suspects have yet to be identified. Police previously released the following descriptions connected to the University Avenue West incident:

• A male, slender build, about 5′5″, wearing all-black clothing and a blue ski mask

• A white male, large build, grey sweater, jeans, white shoes, glasses

• A white female, heavy build, red sweater, black pants, black cross-body bag, black hat, khaki boots

• A white male, slender build, green sweater with hood up, beige pants, boots, blue bandana

• A white male, large build, black sweater with hood up, black hat

Police have not said which, if any, of these descriptions applies to the arrested youth.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Windsor Police Major Crimes Unit or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.