246 robberies, 88 with guns over the last three months in Mississauga and Brampton

According to Peel Regional Police, armed robberies continue to be a significant and ongoing concern in Mississauga and Brampton, posing a widespread threat to the community.

In the last three months, Mississauga and Brampton have seen an average of two or more robberies per day.

Peel police data indicates that from Jan. 1 to April 20, a combined 246 robberies were reported across both cities—124 in Mississauga and 122 in Brampton.

Eighty-eight of the robberies were carried out with guns, 72 with other weapons, one was a violent purse snatching, and 85 were listed simply as “other” by police.

As of today (April 20), 70 of these incidents are considered solved, six are deemed unsolved, and the other 170 are still being investigated.

Overall, robberies saw a notable uptick in February with 51 incidents reported, a 24% increase from January’s 41 cases. The trend continued in March, as robberies rose to 56, marking a 9.8% increase from the previous month.

In April, the number of incidents decreased by 12, resulting in 45 cases, marking a 19% decline.

The gradual yet evident decline in robberies could offer some relief to residents in both cities.

The following map shows where the robberies took place:

According to Peel Regional Police data, the three common hotspots for this type of crime in from Jan. to April were:

• City Centre Drive — 16 occurrences
• Dundas Street — 7 occurrences
• Goreway Drive — 8 occurrences

Compared to the same time last year (Jan. 1, 2023 – April 20, 2023), only three robberies were reported.

The first incident, which has been resolved, involved a firearm and took place around 1 p.m. near Moonland Road in the City of Brampton.

The second incident, a robbery involving an undisclosed offensive weapon, happened shortly after 3 p.m. on April 20, near Airport Road in Brampton. The case remains unsolved.

The third incident, also on April 20, occurred a few hours after the two robberies in Brampton, at around 4:40 p.m. in Mississauga. An unknown weapon was used near Living Arts Drive. This case has since been resolved.

Though these incidents happened on the same day, police have not indicated in their data that the cases are connected.

Additionally, police data doesn’t indicate how many arrests were made or injuries reported in relation to these robberies.

A noteworthy robbery case from the past month involved a man and three other accomplices who forced their way into a home in Brampton while brandishing a gun and demanding money and other property.

While businesses remain the primary targets in these robberies, instances of violent armed robberies have also been reported inside homes or during vehicle thefts.

Peel Regional Police continue to provide safety tips to residents and businesses on safeguarding against robberies:

• Ensure you have a properly working surveillance system.
• Ensure you have proper lighting inside and outside your premises, and remember to maintain them.
• Provide all staff with robbery prevention training.
• Reduce the amount of cash on hand by making frequent cash drops.
• Have low shelving to improve the view of customers.
• Place your shelves in a way that allows employees to see between the aisles from the sales counter.
• Remove all excessive window signage or clutter from the sales area and other critical lines of sight.

If a robbery happens, victims are advised to contact police immediately.