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man, 39, wanted for reckless carjacking in newmarket

the suspect had just been released on bail when he stole a woman's car while she pumped gas

in yet another shining example of canada’s bail system, a 39-year-old man is wanted for a brazen carjacking last weekend in newmarket shortly after he was released from custody.
york regional police say officers responded to the carjacking at a gas station, near mulock dr. e. and harry walker pkwy. – just west of hwy. 404 – around 6:30 p.m. on saturday.
“the victim was pumping gas when a (man) approached and entered her vehicle,” const. lisa moskaluk said in a statement released tuesday, explaining, a good samaritan pulled in front of the victim’s vehicle to block in the carjacker as he tried to drive off.
“however, the (man) was able to flee by reversing, nearly ripping off the door of the victim’s vehicle,” she said, adding nobody was hurt in the frightening encounter.
 
video released by police shows a woman innocently pumping gas into her car as a man nonchalantly hops behind the wheel in broad daylight.
the woman struggles to pull the car thief out of the driver’s seat as he starts to pull away, but an suv suddenly swerves across the parking lot and stops abruptly in front of the woman’s car.
the woman manages to get clear of the vehicle just as the carjacker reverses, hitting a gas pump with the open door, nearly tearing it off, and sending the gas nozzle flying before speeding away.

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investigators alleged they’ve identified giani zail singh sidhu, of no fixed address, as a suspect in the auto theft.
“it was learned the suspect had just been released following a bail hearing on unrelated charges from police custody in #1 district prior to the carjacking,” moskaluk said, offering no further details on those “unrelated charges.”
later on the night of the gas station carjacking — around 9 p.m. — she said opp officers responded to a fail-to-remain collision at mayfield and bramalea rds. in caledon.
 giani zail singh sidhu, 39, of no fixed address, had just been released on bail when he allegedly stole a woman’s car as she pumped gas in newmarket on saturday, aug. 3, 2024.
giani zail singh sidhu, 39, of no fixed address, had just been released on bail when he allegedly stole a woman’s car as she pumped gas in newmarket on saturday, aug. 3, 2024. handout / york regional police
“one of the vehicles involved was the same vehicle that was carjacked in newmarket earlier that day,” moskaluk said.
“the suspect fled on foot,” she said. “despite the use of a drone and their canine unit, police were unable to locate the suspect.”
an arrest warrant been issued for sidhu.
 giani zail singh sidhu, 39, of no fixed address, had just been released on bail when he allegedly stole a woman’s car as she pumped gas in newmarket on saturday, aug. 3, 2024.
giani zail singh sidhu, 39, of no fixed address, had just been released on bail when he allegedly stole a woman’s car as she pumped gas in newmarket on saturday, aug. 3, 2024. handout / york regional police
he is wanted for robbery, dangerous operation of a conveyance, two counts of failure to stop after an accident, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and failure to comply with an undertaking.
sidhu is described as 5-foot-8, 150 pounds, with a thin build, black medium-length hair and a black beard. he was last seen wearing a short-sleeved polo shirt, black athletic pants, navy blue prisoner-issued slip-on shoes, and a white or tan bucket hat.

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police urged anyone with information or relevant dashcam video to call 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630.
chris doucette
chris doucette

chris doucette is an award-winning journalist and assistant city editor at the toronto sun. born and raised in toronto, he is a canadian armed forces veteran who has worked at the sun since graduating from print journalism at centennial college in 2002. he has spent much of his career covering crime in the city and abroad, but he also occasionally writes about the military, mma (mixed martial arts) and travel.

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