338 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 Sept. 3 to Oct. 4, Peel Regional Police data indicates that a combined 338 vehicle thefts occurred across both cities — 158 in Mississauga, 179 in Brampton and one incident in Oakville that fell under Peel police jurisdiction.

As of Saturday, nine stolen vehicle cases had been successfully solved, 320 are still being investigated, and nine were deemed unsolved. Of the stolen vehicles, 241 are cars, 12 are motorcycles, 76 are trucks and nine 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 four or more vehicles were reported stolen:

• Airport Road—four occurrences
• Britannia Road—eight occurrences
• City Centre Drive—five occurrences
• Courtneypark Drive—five occurrences
• Derry Road—seven occurrences
• Dixie Road—eight occurrences
• Dundas Street—seven occurrences
• Great Lakes Drive—nine occurrences
• Hurontario Street—five occurrences
• Steeles Avenue—four occurrences

Here are three notable auto theft stories from September and October:

• Ramming cop cruiser in stolen vehicle leads to charges for Brampton man: police
• Stolen sports car leads to charges for Brampton and Caledon men
• In-car camera leads police to stolen vehicle and charges for Brampton man
• Abandoned stolen vehicle and loaded gun lead to charges for Brampton teen

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

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 the 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.