Police seize 5 guns in Toronto over the weekend

Police pulled five guns off city streets on the weekend, during a series of raids and arrests involving Toronto and Peel Region officers.

On Saturday, Toronto police responded to a call near Weston Road and Eglinton Avenue West.

When officers arrived at the scene, a man fled police and was allegedly seen throwing a gun to the ground.

Police say they recovered a Bryco .380 semi-automatic firearm at the scene.

A 25-year-old man was arrested and charged with six firearm-related offences.

That same day, Toronto police also executed a search warrant at a home on Dombey Road, near Jane Street and Sheppard Avenue West.

Police seized a Harrington and Richardson revolver during the search. A 22-year-old man now faces six criminal counts.

On Sunday, Toronto police executed a search warrant at a Rexleigh Drive home, inside which they found a sawed-off rifle as well as a second rifle that was loaded with six rounds of ammunition.

A 37-year-old now faces 12 firearm-related charges.

Peel Regional Police alsoseized a firearm from a Mimico home on the weekendafter arresting a Toronto man for allegedly trafficking crack cocaine in Mississauga.

Police have been dealing with an increased number of shootings in Toronto this year, as well as an increased number of gun-related homicides.

According topreliminary statistics posted on the Toronto police website, there have been 153 shooting occurrences in the city since January 1. Thats an increase of 27.5 per cent more than last year.

Twenty-one people have died in gun-related homicides this year, compared to 16 at the same time in 2011.