York Regional Police just wrapped up a months-long investigation called Project Dora. Three men. Fourteen break-ins. Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham. They were running through York Region homes since December, grabbing cash and valuables while people were away. Police caught them mid-job on Thursday.
The arrests happened on February 26th near Tower Hill Road and Bathurst Street in Richmond Hill. Police air support tracked the suspects entering a home, and officers were waiting at the vehicle when they came back out. Canadian, U.S., and Filipino currency was seized on the spot. All three are now facing organized crime charges on top of multiple counts of break and enter.
If you live in Toronto, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, or anywhere in the GTA, this is worth paying attention to. Fourteen homes in three months. That's more than one a week. And these weren't random. This was a crew with a system, and they were at it for months before anyone stopped them.
Watch: York Regional Police Arrest Suspects Mid-Job
Video courtesy of York Regional Police. Officers arrest suspects on Tower Hill Road in Richmond Hill after air support tracked them entering a residence.
What Happened and How They Got Caught
York Regional Police's Integrated Property Crime Task Force started investigating in December 2025 after a pattern emerged. Homes across Vaughan, Richmond Hill, and Markham were getting hit in a similar way. Same type of targets, same approach, same kind of items going missing. Enough to connect the dots and build a case.
By February, investigators had identified suspects of interest. On Thursday, February 26th, police got word that those suspects were in the area of Tower Hill Road and Bathurst Street in Richmond Hill. Air support went up and tracked the crew entering a residence on Tower Hill Road. When the suspects walked back to their vehicle, officers were there waiting.
Three men were arrested on the spot. Police found Canadian, U.S., and Filipino currency in the vehicle. Further investigation linked them to all 14 break-ins going back to December.
Here's what stands out. These guys had been at it for almost three months straight. More than one break-in a week across three cities. That's not a couple of opportunists trying their luck. That's an organized operation. And the charges reflect it. All three are facing "Participate in Criminal Organization" on top of the break-and-enter counts.
Investigation: Project Dora • Case #26-29031 / 26-69178
Agency: York Regional Police Integrated Property Crime Task Force (IPCTF)
Arrest Location: Tower Hill Road and Bathurst Street, Richmond Hill
Who Was Charged
Paata Memarne
- Break and Enter, Commit × 11
- Break and Enter, Intent × 3
- Possession of Break and Enter Tools × 1
- Participate in Criminal Organization
Mikheil Shvangiradze
- Break and Enter, Commit × 11
- Break and Enter, Intent × 3
- Possession of Break and Enter Tools × 1
- Participate in Criminal Organization
Tariel Nikuradze
- Break and Enter, Commit × 11
- Break and Enter, Intent × 3
- Possession of Break and Enter Tools × 1
- Participate in Criminal Organization
- Breach of Probation
Nikuradze was already on probation at the time of these offences. That tells you something about the people targeting these neighbourhoods. The system let him out, and he went right back to it. If your home doesn't have a security system, you're trusting the justice system to keep repeat offenders off your street. How's that been working out?
Why the GTA Keeps Getting Hit
This isn't the first organized break-in crew to get busted in York Region, and it won't be the last. The GTA has become a magnet for this kind of thing. Dense suburbs with high-value homes, predictable commuting schedules, and a lot of houses sitting empty during the day. It's the perfect setup for a crew that knows what they're doing.
We just wrote about Toronto's 2025 crime statistics showing 6,092 break-ins across the city. York Region's numbers follow the same pattern. And just last month, we covered a coordinated $20,000 break-in on Queen Street West involving ten suspects. There's also the east Hamilton Mountain break-in spree that's still under investigation.
The pattern across Southern Ontario is clear. Property crime keeps climbing. Organized crews are getting bolder. And they're specifically targeting areas where they know most homes have no alarm and no cameras. The math is simple for them. Hit a neighbourhood where 8 out of 10 houses have nothing, and the odds are in your favour every time.
The only thing that shifts those odds is home security. Not just for your house. For your whole street. Every home with a camera and a monitored alarm makes the entire neighbourhood harder to work.
What Would Have Stopped This Crew
These three were targeting residential homes in Vaughan, Richmond Hill, and Markham for three months. They were choosing houses that were easy to get into. No cameras, no alarms, nobody watching. Change any one of those factors and the whole operation breaks down.
HD Security Cameras
Exterior cameras covering all entry points record everything around the clock. Connected to video monitoring so footage is stored offsite. Even if someone breaks in, you've got clear video of their face, their vehicle, and exactly what time they showed up. That's how police build cases.
24/7 Monitored Alarm
Door and window sensors, motion detectors, glass break detection. The second someone forces entry, your monitored alarm goes off. Our ULC-listed monitoring station contacts police immediately. That's the difference between losing everything and losing nothing.
Smart Doorbell Camera
Crews like this scout neighbourhoods before they hit them. A smart video doorbell catches anyone casing your property. You get alerts on your phone. You can see who's at the door from anywhere. And it records even if they don't ring the bell.
AI-Powered Detection
AI-powered detection can tell a person from a car from a raccoon. When someone approaches your property, you get a real alert for a real threat. Not a notification every time a leaf blows past the lens.
Smart Locks with Tamper Alerts
Smart locks send you an alert the moment someone tries to mess with your door. Lock and unlock remotely, see a full access log, and know the second something is off. If your door gets forced, you know about it before they're even inside.
PowerG+ Wireless Security
PowerG+ technology gives you the most reliable wireless alarm panels on the market. No signal interference, no dead zones, no way for someone to jam your system from outside. Professional-grade protection that actually works when it matters.
"Fourteen homes in three months. These guys treated break-ins like a full-time job. You can't rely on police to catch every crew before they get to your house. You need something there when they show up."
Your House Needs More Than Just a Lock
Most people don't think about security until something happens nearby. A story like Project Dora gets your attention because it's your neighbourhood, your city, your street. Good. Use that motivation while you've got it.
A proper home security system protects against more than break-ins. Here's what we build into every installation across the GTA:
- Fire and smoke detection monitored 24/7. If something goes wrong while you're away or asleep, help is already on the way.
- Flood and water sensors for the basement, water heater, and anywhere else that could cost you tens of thousands in damage overnight.
- Smart thermostats that alert you if the temperature drops to a point where pipes might freeze. One burst pipe can cause more damage than a break-in.
- Interior and exterior cameras you can check from your phone anytime, anywhere.
Every system is customized. We walk your property, figure out the weak spots, and build around them. No cookie-cutter packages, no unnecessary upsells. Just the equipment your house actually needs, installed by our own certified local technicians.
Your Business Is on Their List Too
This crew targeted homes, but York Region has seen plenty of commercial break-in rings over the years. Storefronts in Vaughan, offices in Markham, restaurants across Richmond Hill. If your business sits empty at night without a commercial alarm system, you're betting that nobody's going to try the door.
A business alarm paired with video monitoring and access control keeps your property locked down when you're not there. You know who comes in, when they come in, and you've got video of everything. If someone tries to break in, the alarm triggers and our ULC-listed monitoring station has police on the way in minutes.
Got a construction site in York Region? Tools, materials, and copper are easy targets for crews exactly like this one. Don't leave your site unprotected overnight.
Local, Canadian, and Not Going Anywhere
Force Security is a Canadian, family-owned company. We've been installing security systems and cameras across the GTA, Hamilton, and Niagara since 1988. We're not a call centre in another province. We're local. Our technicians are in Toronto, Hamilton, and everywhere in between.
- You call us, a real person picks up. Someone who knows your system.
- No long-term contracts. We keep your business by earning it.
- No cost upfront options so you can get a full system installed without a big upfront bill.
- Every install done by our own certified technicians. Not a random subcontractor.
- ULC-listed monitoring. The highest standard for alarm response in Canada.
- PowerG+ wireless technology. Best-in-class panels, zero interference.
Check our customer reviews, read about our Readers' Choice Award, or meet the team. We've been doing this for over 35 years because we do it right.
If You Have Information
The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information about these break-ins or think your property may have been targeted, York Regional Police want to hear from you.
- York Regional Police IPCTF: 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7232
- Crime Stoppers (anonymous): 1-800-222-TIPS or 1800222tips.com
York Regional Police also reminded the public to maintain the appearance that their homes are occupied. That means lights on timers, smart home automation, and not letting mail pile up at the door. But honestly? Appearance only gets you so far. An organized crew that's been doing this for months knows the difference between a lamp on a timer and an empty house. You need real security. Cameras that record, sensors that trigger, and monitoring that calls police the second something happens.
Get a Free Security Assessment for Your GTA Home
We'll come to your property, find the weak spots, and build a system that fits your budget. No pressure, no obligation, no contract lock-in.
Book Your Free AssessmentFrequently Asked Questions
What is Project Dora?
Project Dora is a York Regional Police investigation into an organized break-and-enter crew that hit 14 homes across Vaughan, Richmond Hill, and Markham between December 2025 and February 2026. Three suspects were arrested on February 26, 2026, and are facing organized crime charges.
Who was arrested in the York Region break-and-enter spree?
Three men were arrested: Paata Memarne (31, Toronto), Mikheil Shvangiradze (44, Toronto), and Tariel Nikuradze (38, Vaughan). All three face multiple counts of break and enter, possession of break-in tools, and participating in a criminal organization. Nikuradze also faces a breach of probation charge.
How do I protect my home from organized break-in crews?
A monitored home security system with exterior cameras, door and window sensors, and 24/7 professional monitoring makes your home a bad target. Crews like this pick easy houses. A visible camera and an alarm sign are usually enough to send them to the next street.
Does Force Security serve Vaughan, Richmond Hill, and Markham?
Yes. We cover the entire GTA including Toronto, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, all the way down to Niagara Falls. See our full service area.
How much does a home security system cost in the GTA?
It depends on the size of your property and what you need. Force Security offers no-cost-upfront alarm systems so you don't pay a big lump sum to get started. Monthly monitoring is affordable, and there are no long-term contracts. Get in touch for a free quote.
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