Toronto Police have arrested three individuals, laid 150 charges, and recovered more than 2,500 suspected stolen items as part of Project Compass, a targeted investigation into a series of high-end residential break-ins across Toronto.Toronto Police Services/Supplied
Toronto police say they have recovered more than $1-million worth of family heirlooms, jewellery and gold during an investigation into high-end residential break-ins, leading to three arrests and 150 charges.
More than 2,500 items believed to be stolen were recovered as part of Project Compass, after a series of break-and-enter incidents plagued condominium buildings across Toronto.
Inspector Joe Matys told a news conference Thursday that the investigation began in September, 2025, when police from 14 Division’s Major Crime Unit found several residential units had been targeted for high-value items.
During the course of the investigation, police say they connected approximately eight to 10 additional incidents, starting in May, 2025. Since then, the investigation has found links between 21 break-and-enter incidents across the Greater Toronto Area and a website has now been launched for owners to find their stolen items.
“We want to return these items to their owners,” Insp. Matys said. “Many of these items are of high value, and some may even be family heirlooms.”
Gary Mason: Break into my home at your own risk
Images of the items recovered during Project Compass are available on the investigation website, with a process available for owners to reclaim their property. The stolen goods were found when investigators executed a search warrant at a pawnshop involved in the criminal organization, Insp. Matys said.
“We allege stolen property was being trafficked through this business and converted into cash,” Insp. Matys said.
Police said Thursday that they arrested three people in March, who face 150 charges, including break-and-enter, possession of break-in instruments and disguise with intent.
Toronto police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer confirmed that those arrested were Mindia Jintcharashvli, 41, and Valeri Mandaria, 35, from Vaughan. They each face 67 charges. Imeda Khabuliani, 49, of Toronto, was also arrested and faces 16 charges.
Police said the pawnshop is located in the Queen Street East and Church Street area, and that the pawnshop owner is not among those arrested. In response to a question at the news conference, Detective Sergeant Bruno Miron said the owner is part of the investigation and he “may be facing charges in the near future.”
Shaken by break-ins, an affluent Toronto neighbourhood takes action
Toronto Police have previously acknowledged a rise in home invasions throughout the Greater Toronto Area linked to organized groups targeting vehicles, and said police services across the region have been working together to address the problem.
Home invasions and break-and-enter offences increased in Toronto’s Rosedale-Moore Park by 145 per cent between 2015 and 2025, according to a Globe and Mail analysis of police data. By comparison, in the city overall, the two offences fell by 27 per cent in the same period.
The rates increased by 236 per cent in Yonge-St. Clair and 233 per cent in Mount Pleasant East, respectively, two other high-income neighbourhoods – defined as being in the top 25 per cent of household earnings.
The Globe reported that Toronto police activated the Hold Up Squad, a unit investigating robberies, and worked with police services across the region to address the series of break-ins.
As The Globe reported in April, a spate of sometimes violent break-ins in some affluent neighbourhoods had prompted residents to take action to protect their homes.
On Thursday, Janice Lo, president of the South Rosedale Residents Association, said the situation has dramatically improved in the neighbourhood since residents organized private security patrols and introduced “virtual gates” to reduce the frequency of these offences.