VIDEO: Nearly naked man with loaded gun arrested in high-end vehicle thefts worth $1.5M in Toronto and Peel

An accused car thief took the saying “caught with your pants down” a little too literally when he was arrested in his underwear while carrying a loaded handgun.

The takedown was part of two operations by police forces in Mississauga, Brampton and Toronto looking into over a dozen high-end vehicle thefts and break-ins during the summer months.

Peel Regional Police say an organized crime ring is responsible for at least 13 nighttime break-ins in Peel and Toronto where vehicles worth more than $1.5 million were stolen.

The investigations dubbed Project Chicago and Project Blue Streak by investigators led police to search four homes in Peel, Toronto, and Alliston where multiple vehicles and illegal firearms and magazines were found.

One of the firearms had been converted to fire in full-auto and had a high-capacity 9mm drum magazine, police said.

In one of the arrests, the accused tried to escape officers by jumping out a window. A video of the takedown shared by police shows a man dressed in only his underwear trying to climb out of the window before falling flat on his face.

Police say the handgun was loaded when the suspect was taken into custody.

A 28-year-old male and 22-year-old male, both of Toronto, and a 24-year-old from Cambridge have all been arrested and charged in connection to the break-ins, Peel Regional Police say.

Cody Watts, 22, of Toronto has been charged with:

• Three counts of possession of property obtained by crime.
• Possession of loaded firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm
• Possession of prohibited device

Brandyn Hunter, 28, of Toronto, has been charged with:

• Possession of property obtained by crime.
• Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm.

Savannah Chaves, 24, of Cambridge, has charged with:

• Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm.

Police say the investigation is still open and investigators anticipate additional arrests and charges to come.

Anyone with information about this incident can contact Peel Regional Police by calling 905-453-3311. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.

When you contact Crime Stoppers you stay anonymous, never have to testify, and could receive a $2,000 reward.