Three Arrested, Two Outstanding Following Violent North York Home Invasion

Toronto Police have successfully apprehended three suspects connected to a violent home invasion and vehicle theft in North York, though a search remains active for two additional perpetrators.

Early Morning Assault on Yonge and Sheppard

The horrifying break-in occurred during the early hours of Monday, March 9. Police responded to a residence located near the busy intersection of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue at approximately 5:20 a.m. following reports of a violent intrusion.

According to police investigators, a group of five masked suspects coordinated a forced entry into the targeted residence. Once inside, the situation escalated into a violent confrontation.

Police allege that the masked intruders physically assaulted one of the home's residents using a weapon. During the violent altercation, the suspects successfully obtained a set of car keys belonging to the homeowner.

Suspects Flee with Stolen Vehicle

Following the assault, the suspects swiftly abandoned the property. Investigators determined that one of the suspect used the stolen keys to steal the resident's vehicle, fleeing the scene in the stolen car.

The remaining four suspects piled into a separate vehicle—the same one they had used to arrive at the residence—and also sped away from the neighbourhood.

Police Track Down Three Suspects

Despite the rapid getaway, a swift police investigation led to the successful tracking and arrest of three of the five suspects involved later that same Monday.

The arrested individuals have been identified as:

• Waheed Rahmati, a 22-year-old resident of Richmond Hill
• Camyar Zandinia, a 20-year-old resident of East Gwillimbury
• A 17-year-old youth, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act

Combined, the three suspects are now facing dozens of serious criminal charges related to the armed home invasion, the violent assault, and the vehicle theft.

Two Suspects Remain at Large

While three individuals are in custody, Toronto Police are actively searching for the remaining two suspects who fled the scene.

Unfortunately, because the suspects were heavily masked during the home invasion, investigators have not yet been able to publicly release detailed physical descriptions of the outstanding individuals.

Police are urging anyone residing in the Yonge and Sheppard area to review any home security or dash camera footage recorded around 5:20 a.m. on Monday, March 9, for any signs of the suspects or the fleeing vehicles. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Toronto Police Service or submit an anonymous tip via Crime Stoppers.

Protecting Your Vehicle from Home Intrusions

This incident highlights a growing trend where criminals execute home invasions specifically to steal high-value vehicle keys. Protect yourself with these strategies:

• Hide Your Keys: Never leave your car keys hanging on a hook by the front door or sitting visibly on an entryway table. Store them in a secure, hidden location deeper inside your home.
• Use Faraday Pouches: Store key fobs in signal-blocking "Faraday" pouches to prevent tech-savvy thieves from utilizing relay attacks to clone your key's signal from outside the home.
• Layer Vehicle Security: Consider installing an aftermarket engine immobilizer or using a physical steering wheel lock. Even if thieves obtain your keys, these secondary measures can prevent them from successfully stealing the vehicle.