39 break and enters over 29 days in Mississauga and Brampton, Ontario
Published March 16, 2024 at 3:21 pm
Break-and-enter incidents in Mississauga and Brampton have decreased for the third consecutive month, with police responding to fewer than 40 cases in the past 29 days.
According to Peel Regional Police data, there were a total of 39 break-and-enter cases beginning from Feb. 15 to March 16.
This works out to an average of one or more crimes of this kind committed each day.
Unlike the whopping 318 incidents reported from Oct. 18 to Nov. 19, there was a significant decrease to 86 incidents in the following 31 days (Nov. 20 to Dec. 21). A nearly 72.9% decline in break and enters.
This trend persisted in January with only 48 incidents—marking a 44.2% decline compared to the previous month.
The first half of February saw a further drop of 12.75% in break-and-enter incidents across the region, which may have provided some relief to residents.
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From the latter part of February into March, those numbers increased slightly by six incidents.
Both cities saw their fair share of crimes of this nature with 26 of these incidents happening in Mississauga and the other 13 in Brampton.
The map below shows where the break-and-enters took place:
The data also highlights that the following places were targeted: 23 houses, two apartments, one residential garage or shed, one jewellery store, one office, three stores, one restaurant, and seven were “unidentified” businesses.
A common hotspot for break-and-enter incidents this month was:
- Dundas Street in Mississauga — four occurrences.
As of March 16, with the investigations into the majority of these cases, 25 are still ongoing and 14 are considered solved.
In a notable incident from this past month, three suspects forced their way into a residence near Goreway Drive and Castlemore Road and pointed a gun at the residents demanding car keys. The suspects then fled in two Mercedes Benz sedans owned by the victims.
Peel police say some properties are more likely to be targeted than others 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,” police say. Burglars target certain properties based on characteristics that will increase their chances of breaking in without getting caught.
Despite the significant decrease in these crimes, there may never be a month without incidents related to break-ins. However, the positive news is that there are safety measures community members can adopt to safeguard themselves and their families.
Residents are advised by Peel police to follow these tips:
- Ensure that shrubs and hedges around the property are maintained to have clear lines of sight to all accessible windows and doors.
- Keep garage and screen doors locked, even while at home.
- Get to know the neighbours and join forces by looking out for each other’s properties.
- Consider installing a second locking device for windows and any sliding doors.