486 vehicles stolen over 31 days in Mississauga and Brampton, Ontario

Vehicle thefts in Mississauga and Brampton continue to be a daily concern with more than 400 cars, trucks, and motorcycles reported stolen in the past month. This ongoing issue has persisted since 2023 and remains a major worry for local law enforcement and residents.

Peel Regional Police data indicates that from Sept. 5 to Oct. 5, a combined 486 vehicle thefts were reported in the two cities—259 in Mississauga, 224 in Brampton, one incident in Caledon and two in Toronto that fell under Peel police jurisdiction.

That works out to an average of approximately 16 thefts or more per day in the region.

As of Saturday, 11 of the stolen vehicle cases have been solved, 471 are still being investigated and four are deemed unsolved. Of the stolen vehicles, 344 are cars, 128 are trucks, 11 are motorcycles and three are listed as “others.”

Although this month’s total of stolen vehicles is concerning, it represents a significant drop from August’s 568 incidents, marking a 14.4 per cent decline.

The following map shows where this past month’s auto thefts took place:

Peel Regional Police data also highlights two common hot spots this month where 14 or more vehicles have been stolen:

• Airport Road—14 occurrences
• Great Lakes Drive —30 occurrences

Additionally, insights into the patterns of car thefts reveal that certain areas are more vulnerable than others, prompting residents in the area to take extra precautions.

Here are some of the most notable vehicle theft stories from this past month:

• HOME INVASION: Victims awakened, forced to hand over keys to luxury cars in Mississauga
• $2M in goods stolen from big trucks as they made deliveries in Mississauga and Oakville
• VIDEO: Brampton woman accused in ‘brazen’ carjacking charged with another auto theft in Toronto

Peel police have shared helpful tips to prevent residents from falling victim to auto thefts:

• if possible, park your vehicle in a locked garage, as most vehicles have been stolen from driveways.
• use a steering wheel lock. It will also act as a visible deterrent.
• install a lock on the data port. This simple device can be purchased online and blocks access to the computer port where the thieves gain access to reprogram the vehicle’s keys.
• consider purchasing a quality video surveillance system. Ensure cameras are correctly placed and functioning for day and night use. Familiarize yourself with the system so it can be reviewed and accessed immediately.