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

More than 350 vehicles were reportedly stolen in the last 31 days in Mississauga and Brampton.

From Jan. 8 to Feb. 8, Peel Regional Police data indicates that a combined 356 vehicle thefts occurred across both cities — 194 in Mississauga, 160 in Brampton and two incidents in Caledon that fell under Peel police jurisdiction.

As of Sunday, six stolen vehicle cases had been successfully solved, 337 are still being investigated, and 13 were deemed unsolved.

Of the stolen vehicles, 266 are cars, four are motorcycles, 79 are trucks and seven 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 seven or more vehicles were reported stolen:

• Airport Road— seven occurrences
• City Centre Drive — nine occurrences
• Dixie Road— nine occurrences
• Great Lakes Drive— seven occurrences

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

• Carjacking task force takedown ends with skull fracture of Brampton man: SIU
• High-end vehicles targeted in Oakville; three suspects from Mississauga arrested
• Investigation into car theft ring leads police to Brampton

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.