Two men have been arrested and charged with attempted murder following a violent carjacking incident in Brampton, Ontario. The incident occurred on May 10 when a man was test-driving his Dodge Challenger, which he had listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace. During the test drive, one of the suspects brandished a weapon and threatened the vehicle's owner.

The suspects, aged 22 and 20 and hailing from Windsor, allegedly stabbed the victim in the neck when he refused to exit his car. After the attack, the suspects fled the scene, leaving the victim with serious injuries. He was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment. The stolen vehicle was located the next day in Windsor.

Peel Regional Police reported that their investigation, aided by the Windsor Police Service, led to the arrests on September 11. In addition to attempted murder, the suspects face charges of robbery and aggravated assault. They are currently being held pending a bail hearing.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the suspects or the incident to contact them at (905) 453-2121 ext. 3410 or to reach out anonymously through CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

In a related note, the Équité Association, which monitors crime trends in Canada, reported a 19.1% decrease in national auto thefts in the first half of this year, with a total of 23,094 incidents. Ontario experienced the most significant decline at 25.9%, followed by Quebec at 22.2%. The association attributed this drop to the efforts of Public Safety Canada’s 2024 National Action Plan on Combating Auto Theft, along with collaboration among law enforcement and industry stakeholders.

As of late August, the Canada Border Services Agency reported intercepting 1,066 stolen vehicles this year, with over half found in Quebec. This figure marks a significant decrease from previous years, including 2,277 in 2024 and a projected decline from 1,806 in 2023.

York Regional Police also noted a 49% decrease in carjackings this year compared to last year, crediting targeted enforcement and regional task force initiatives. Earlier this year, they issued warnings about staged collision carjackings, where suspects cause minor accidents to lure victims out of their vehicles before stealing them.

The Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force (PCJTF), established in October 2023, aims to combat rising violent auto thefts. The task force includes various regional police agencies and focuses on disrupting networks involved in high-risk auto thefts, which often involve weapons.