Your Singhs today ("Greater" Toronto edition)

The Region of Peel (called Peel County until 1973) is a huge bedroom on the western border of Toronto, Canada. Its population, according to the 2021 census, was just under 1.5 million. Included in that total were some 1.4 million Sikhs. [Ed., please check that figure. Do the Canucks keep track of people's race and religion?]

At least, that's the way it seems, judging by reports of crimes and misdemeanors in which the perps accused so often have "Singh" as a middle name or surname. Some recent reports of the nefarious activities of assorted Singhs may be found by entering "Singh" in the search window above. Here's a new one, posted by the Peel Regional Police earlier today. We've added a few comments.

The Peelers [Will non-Brits get that? Ed.] announced the break-up of a "prolific" theft ring targeting Liquor Control Board of Ontario (a government agency) stores across the so-called Greater Toronto Area. Between August of 2024 and this past February, a gang of Singhs (and one guy who might be a Hindu) made off with nearly C$240,000 worth of dat ole debbil gin and related products. 

The group allegedly targeted as many as 50 LCBO locations during that time and used co-ordinated techniques to steal a total of C$237,738.95 in alcohol. Investigators say that on many occasions multiple suspects arrived at the stores together and distracted employees before accomplices entered restricted access points. Images provided by police appear to show the suspects carrying large quantities of liquor from the stores in boxes and push carts. Five individuals have been arrested and charged. Here are their mug shots.

Here are their rap sheets. Charged with Theft over $5000 are:

Anuj Kumar, 25, no fixed address

Simarpeet Singh, 29, no fixed address 

Sharndeep Singh, 25, no fixed address, also charged with Breach of Release Order, meaning he was already out on bail

Simranjeet Singh, 24, no fixed address, also charged with Break and Enter with Intent to Commit Indictable Offence, and

Prabhpreet Singh, 29, of Caledon (the northern part of Peel Region), also charged with Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence 

All five arrested individuals were held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton. The outcome of the bail hearings has not been made public, but Walt's local agent speculates that the four of no fixed address have likely been released after promising not go anywhere near Toronto Airport, located just a few miles to the east, from which there are daily flights to India and Pakistan.

Two additional suspects are "outstanding", as the cops say, and may already have left on one of those planes. They are identified by police as 28-year-old Jagshir Singh and 25-year-old Punit Sehjra, likewise of no fixed address.

Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Marc Andrews told the meeja,"The work of our Criminal Investigation Bureau has been nothing short of exceptional in dismantling this prolific organized crime group. We will leave no 18-wheeler unsearched until we have located the remaining Singhs."

He said nothing about how all these Singhs got into Canada, nor their present status. It may be that they are all on student visas, pursuing a higher education at the infamous Singh School of Truck Driving. (See WWW, passim.)

Walt notes that the presser was given by the very white Deputy Chief Marc Andrews. No doubt the Chief was otherwise engaged. His name is Nishan Duraiappah. He began his career with Halton Police after immigrating in December 1995, and has served in a variety of assignments including front line policing, specialized investigations and "Diversity and Community Relations" [sic].