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Man, 3 teens arrested after 16 vehicles set ablaze in Markham

More than $300,000 in damages caused in Jan. 27 incident, police say
NewmarketToday Staff
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York Regional Police photo

A Hamilton man and three 17-year-old Toronto teenagers face charges in connection with an arson that damaged 16 vehicles in Markham.

Suspects used accelerants to set fire to the vehicles, causing over $300,000 in damage, on Monday, Jan. 27 at approximately 5 a.m. in the area of Green Lane and Guardsman Road, York Regional Police said.

Investigators learned that a vehicle related to the fire was stolen from the area of Midland Avenue and Lawrence Avenue East in Toronto prior to the arson, police said.

As a result of public assistance and in co-operation with Toronto Police Service, two suspects were identified and charged in relation to the arson and two other suspects were charged for related offences.

During the arrests, a youth was found concealing a weapon, police said. Two search warrants were executed at residences in Toronto and Hamilton and an electronic device used to commit motor vehicle theft was recovered, police added.

Charged are:

Muhammad Hassan Choudhry of Hamilton with:

  • Arson Causing Damage to Property
  • Possession of Incendiary Material
  • Theft Motor Vehicle Over $5,000
  • Mischief to Property Over $5,000
  • Disguise with Intent x2
  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
  • Possess Electronic Device for Motor Vehicle Theft
  • Breach of Probation 
  • Fail to Comply with Undertaking x2 
  • Fail to Comply with Judicial Release Order x2 

A 17-year-old male from Toronto with:

  • Arson Causing Damage to Property
  • Possession of Incendiary Material
  • Theft Motor Vehicle Over $5,000
  • Mischief to Property Over $5,000
  • Disguise with Intent x2
  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
  • Possess Electronic Device for Motor Vehicle Theft

A 17-year-old female from Toronto with:

  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

A 17-year-old male from Toronto with:

  • Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose.

At the time of the offence, Choudry was on probation, as well as conditions of judicial release orders and undertakings for unrelated offences, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call YRP at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7241, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.