446 break and enters in the last three months in Mississauga and Brampton
Published April 13, 2024 at 4:51 pm
Break-and-enters are among the most common crimes in Mississauga and Brampton, with police responding to over 400 cases in the last three months.
According to Peel Regional Police data, there were 446 break-and-enters from Jan.1 to April 13.
This works out to an average of four or more crimes of this kind committed each day.
However, there was a peak in break-ins between October and November (2023), recording the highest monthly total of 318 incidents in a 31-day period.
Subsequently, the frequency of these incidents significantly decreased, with a sharp 72 per cent drop to 86 cases from November to December.
The downward trend continued into the new year, reducing further to 48 incidents from January to February and 29 cases from February to March. The number of break-ins remained consistent, with 29 incidents also recorded from March to April.
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Both cities saw their fair share of crimes of this nature with 256 of these incidents happening in Mississauga and the other 190 in Brampton.
The map below shows where the break-and-enters took place:
The data also highlights that the following places were targeted: 224 houses, 15 apartments, 19 residential garages or sheds, four construction sites, seven offices, three jewellery shops, two pharmacies, 17 restaurants, 25 stores and 130 were “unidentified” businesses.
A common hotspot for break-and-enter incidents in the last three months was:
- Dundas Street—21 occurrences
As of April 12, with the investigations into the majority of these cases, 347 are still ongoing, 61 are considered solved, and 38 have been deemed unsolved.
Here are some notable break-in incidents since the beginning of this year:
- 8 people charged in home invasion carjackings in Mississauga, Brampton and Toronto
- Two arrested in home invasion and carjackings in Brampton
- Man charged in armed home invasion and two other robberies in Mississauga and Brampton
- Wanted: Prolific break-and-enter suspect tied to temple thefts in GTA
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, as well as 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.
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.
Peel police advise residents 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.