324 vehicles stolen in the last 31 days in Mississauga and Brampton

More than 300 vehicles were reportedly stolen in the last 31 days in Mississauga and Brampton.

From Feb. 26 to March 28, Peel Regional Police data indicates that a combined 324 vehicle thefts occurred across both cities, with 178 incidents in Mississauga and 146 in Brampton.

As of Saturday, eight stolen vehicle cases had been successfully solved, 281 are still being investigated, and 35 were deemed unsolved.

Of the stolen vehicles, 255 are cars, two are motorcycles, 65 are trucks and two are listed as “others.”

The following map shows where these auto thefts took place:

The data also points to the most common hotspots in Peel Region this month, where nine or more vehicles were reported stolen:

• Airport Road — 14 occurrences
• City Centre Drive — nine occurrences
• Dixie Road — nine occurrences
• Great Lakes Drive — nine occurrences
• Steeles Avenue — nine occurrences

Here are three notable auto theft stories from February and March:

• Man arrested after home invasion in St. Catharines involving stolen car from Mississauga; 4 suspects outstanding
• Violent carjackings in Mississauga and across Greater Toronto Area lead to 6 arrests
• 13 stolen cars worth $800K recovered by police; 2 brothers from Mississauga charged

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

• if possible, park your vehicle in a locked garage, as the majority of the 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 thieves gain access to reprogram the vehicle’s keys.
• consider purchasing a quality video surveillance system. Ensure cameras are properly placed and functioning for day and night use. Familiarize yourself with the system so it can be reviewed and accessed immediately.