173 break and enters over 31 days in Mississauga and Brampton

Police have responded to over a hundred break-and-enters across Mississauga and Brampton in the last 31 days.

According to Peel Regional Police data, there were a total of 173 break-and-enter cases beginning from Sept. 13 to Oct. 14.

This report also shows that in comparison to August (2023), there have been 18 fewer incidents of this kind.

This could mean the region is seeing a small, but nonetheless, a decline in break-and-enters.

Both cities saw their fair share of crimes related to break-ins this past month, with 105 of these incidents happening in Mississauga and the other 68 in Brampton.

The map below shows where these incidents took place:

The data also further highlights that the following places were targeted: 71 houses, five apartments, five residential garages or sheds, 7 stores, 22 restaurants, four construction sites, two schools, one factory, one pharmacy, one gas station, one office, 18 were simply listed as “other” and 35 were “unidentified” businesses.

The top 5 common hotspots for these break and enter incidents to occur are:

• Dixie Rd
• Dundas St
• Maingate Dr
• Kennedy Rd
• Heart Lake Rd

As of Oct. 14, with the investigations into the majority of these break and enters, 148 are still ongoing. Fifteen are considered solved, and ten is listed as unsolved.

However it seems that crimes of this nature are becoming more problematic as the number of break-ins this month are much higher than this same time last year (2022).

On Sept. 13– Oct. 14 (2022) there were reportedly only 12 break and enter cases which is 93% less than what those numbers are today (Oct 2023).

A notable incident involving three separate break-enters in Mississauga this past summer seemed to follow a similar pattern each time. Police say the suspects entered homes early hours of the morning while the occupants were asleep.

Peel police say some properties are more likely to be targeted than others such as corner lots, homes that back onto parks and other open spaces, and homes that do not appear to be maintained or “lived in.”

“Residential break-ins are typically crimes of opportunity,” police say. “Burglars target certain property based on characteristics that will increase their chances of breaking-in without getting caught.”

Although there may never been a month without incidents related to break and enters, the good news is there are safety measures community members can take to protect themselves and their families.

Residents are advised by Peel police to following these tips:

• Ensure that shrubs and hedges around the property are maintained to have clear lines of sight to all accessible windows and doors.
• Keep garage and screen doors locked, even while at home.
• Get to know the neighbours and join forces by looking out for each other’s properties.
• Consider installing a second locking device for windows and any sliding doors.