Toronto police have announced the results of an investigation into a series of high end residential break ins across the city, an operation they dubbed Project Compass. The case centres on thousands of pieces of stolen jewellery and other valuables taken from people's homes, and from condos in particular.
In all, investigators say they are dealing with roughly 2,500 suspected stolen items, ranging from bracelets, earrings and necklaces to coins, cufflinks and watches. Police put the value of the recovered haul at somewhere between one million and 1.5 million dollars, underscoring the scale of the thefts.
The investigation began in May 2025, when people living in condos started reporting that their jewellery had gone missing. From those initial complaints, the case steadily expanded as officers pieced together how the thefts were being carried out and who might be behind them.
Investigators conducted a detailed review of surveillance footage and quickly identified a pattern. Through that work, they linked an additional eight to 10 occurrences and identified a primary suspect, building a picture of a repeat operation targeting residential buildings.
According to police, the suspect allegedly disguised themselves as a maintenance worker or a construction worker in order to gain access to people's condos. That cover, investigators allege, allowed the person to move through secure buildings without drawing suspicion before making off with valuables.
Police allege the stolen goods were then funnelled to a downtown Toronto pawn shop, where the property was trafficked through the business and converted into cash. Search warrants executed at that location led investigators to recover more than 2,500 items, including jewellery, watches, coins, cash and precious metals.
The pawn shop owner is not among those arrested, but police say the person could face charges as the investigation continues, with officers examining whether the owner knew the items were stolen or failed to do proper due diligence. In the meantime, Toronto police have launched an online portal where residents can browse the recovered inventory and contact police to try to reclaim their belongings.