2,622 break-and-enters reported in 2024 in Mississauga and Brampton

Published December 14, 2024 at 3:27 pm

break, enter, year, round up, theif, suspect, steal, violent, crime, community, residents, businesses, invasions, weapons, cars, victims, Mississauga, Brampton.

As the year winds down, break-ins remain a significant concern in Mississauga and Brampton, police say, with more than 2,600 incidents reported in the past 12 months.

From Jan. 1 to Dec. 14, Peel Regional Police numbers show a combined 2,622 break-ins were reported across both cities — 1,656 in Mississauga and 965 in Brampton. In addition to these numbers, there was one incident in Halton Hills that fell under Peel jurisdiction.

Here’s a month-to-month breakdown of the number of break-ins in these cities, based on police data:

Jan. 1 to Jan. 31: 298 — 124 Brampton, 173 Mississauga, 1 Halton Hills
Feb. 1 to March 1: 254 — 99 Brampton 155 Mississauga
March 2 to April 2: 258 — 97 Brampton 161 Mississauga
April 3 to May 3: 261 — 81 Brampton 180 Mississauga
May 4 to June 4: 164—71 Brampton 93 Mississauga
June 5 to July 6: 233 — 79 Brampton 154 Mississauga
July 7 to August 7: 203 — 72 Brampton 131 Mississauga
August 8 to Sept 8: 288 — 98 Brampton 190 Mississauga
Sept 9 to Oct 9: 230 — 74 Brampton 156 Mississauga
Oct 10 to Nov. 10: 234 — 111 Brampton 123 Mississauga
Nov 11 to Dec. 14: 199 — 61 Brampton 138 Mississauga

Break-ins in Mississauga, Brampton, and Halton Hills began the year with a surge, peaking at 298 incidents in January.

While February saw a slight dip to 254, reports climbed again through early spring, reaching 261 by May. Late spring brought some relief, with totals dropping to 164 incidents in June, marking the year’s lowest point.

The warmer months reversed the trend, culminating in a late summer high of 288 incidents in early September, with Mississauga consistently reporting more cases than Brampton.

The fall months showed a steady decline, with incidents decreasing to 230 by early October and stabilizing at 199 by mid-December. However, with a few weeks remaining in the month, the final numbers could increase by year-end.

As of Dec. 14, only 362 break and enter cases had been successfully solved, 1,620 were still being investigated and 640 were deemed unsolved.

The following map shows where this year’s break-ins took place:

The data also further indicates that the following places were targeted: 1,176 houses, 112 apartments, 13 gas stations, 129 residential garages or sheds 20 were listed as “other residentials”, 177 stores, seven jewellery stores, 175 restaurants, nine pharmacy’s, 56 construction sites, 47 schools, seven factories, 18 offices, 120 were simply listed as “other” and 556 were “unidentified” businesses.

The top 14 common hotspots for these break-ins to occur are:

Airport Road
Britannia Road
Burnhamthorpe Road
City Centre Drive
Courtneypark Drive
Dixie Road
Dundas Street
Eglinton Avenue
Hurontario Street
Kennedy Road
Lakeshore Road
Mavis Road
Queen Street
Rutherford Road

Compared to last year’s total of 2,434 incidents, break-ins have increased by approximately 7.7 per cent in 2024.

Here are some noteworthy break and enter incidents from the year:

According to Peel Police, some properties are more likely to be broken into 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,” Peel Police say. “Burglars usually target certain property based on characteristics that will increase their chances of breaking-in without getting caught.”

Residents are advised to maintain a safe home and prevent break-ins by following these tips:

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

INsauga's Editorial Standards and Policies