Four Brampton men face more than 125 charges in connection with a string of recent violent home invasions, including one where an elderly woman was thrown down a flight of stairs.
The suspects were arrested late Thursday and face charges that include robbery, sexual assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and wearing a disguise.
The culprits are believed to be behind as many as nine home invasions in Peel Region, including two where victims were sexually assaulted.
The suspects are also believed to be behind holdups at two Swiss Chalet outlets in Halton and York regions.
In most cases, victims were terrorized and tied up while the masked bandits robbed them of cash and valuables, police said.
The culprits are believed to be behind a home invasion in Mississauga earlier this week where a 56-year-old woman was thrown down a flight of stairs as she went to open the door.
Detectives are investigating whether the accused were involved in other retail robberies and a home invasion in Brampton where a 70-year-old woman was beaten with a chair and hospitalized.
Peel police urged residents to stay calm during the spree of home invasions, saying the victims were targeted.
"In the vast majority of home invasion robberies we investigate, there is a direct link or association between the victims and the accused parties -- it is usually through business or family relations," Det. Sgt. Bruce Chapman said at a news conference on Friday.
"That is the case in these robberies."
Investigators say they are still looking for three suspects in the case, including two women.
"We expect to have everybody in custody by the end of the weekend," Chapman said.
Charged are Patrick Kelleher, 20, Horaine Bennett, 19, David Stansbury, 22, and Joshua Samuel, 19.
The man are to appear in a Brampton court on Monday for bail hearings.
Anyone who may have information on this case is asked to contact the Central Robbery Bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3410 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
