4,722 cars stolen in 2025 in Mississauga and Brampton, Ontario

As 2025 winds down, vehicle thefts continue to affect neighbourhoods in Mississauga and Brampton, with more than 4,700 incidents reported over the past 12 months.

From Jan. 1 to Dec. 21, Peel Regional Police data indicates a combined 4,722 vehicle thefts were reported across both cities — 2,838 in Mississauga and 1,867 in Brampton. In addition to these numbers, there were nine incidents in Toronto, two in Caledon, three in Oakville, one in Burlington, one in Markham,
and one in Vaughn that fell under Peel police jurisdiction.

Here’s a month-to-month breakdown of the number of vehicles stolen in these cities according to police data:

• Jan. 1 to Jan. 31: 437 — 185 Brampton, 250 Mississauga (one Toronto, one Vaughn)
• Feb. 1 to Feb. 28: 334 — 143 Brampton, 191 Mississauga
• Mar 1 to March 31: 390 — 161 Brampton, 229 Mississauga
• April 1 to April 30: 372 — 119 Brampton, 251 Mississauga (one Caledon, one Toronto)
• May 1 to May 31: 420 — 140 Brampton, 277 Mississauga (one each in Markham, Oakville, and Toronto)
• June 1 to June 30: 431 — 167 Brampton, 262 Mississauga (two Toronto)
• July 1 to July 31: 462 — 182 Brampton, 279 Mississauga (one Burlington)
• Aug. 1 to Aug. 31: 407 — 160 Brampton, 245 Mississauga (two Toronto)
• Sept. 1 to Sept. 30: 402 — 182 Brampton, 218 Mississauga (one Oakville, one Toronto)
• Oct. 1 to Oct. 31: 436 — 173 Brampton, 262 Mississauga (one Caledon)
• Nov. 1 to Nov 30: 388 — 163 Brampton, 223 Mississauga (one Oakville, one Toronto)
• Dec. 1 to Dec. 21: 243 — 92 Brampton, 151 Mississauga

In the early weeks of 2025, vehicle theft activity began at a moderate level, with 437 incidents reported across the region between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31.

The following month saw a notable slowdown, with thefts dropping to 334 incidents recorded between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28.

As spring approached, the numbers began to rise again. March recorded 390 thefts, followed by a slight dip in April with 372 incidents.

Late spring marked a renewed increase. May saw 420 vehicle thefts, and that upward movement continued into June, with 431 incidents.

By summer, there was another surge in vehicle thefts. July recorded 462 cases, marking the highest monthly total of the year.

After reaching that midsummer high, thefts began to ease. August saw 407 incidents, followed by a further decline in September, when 402 thefts were reported.

October brought a temporary reversal, with 436 vehicle thefts reported, interrupting the downward trend that followed the summer peak. However, that increase was short-lived.

By November, thefts declined again to 388 incidents. The most recent data shows a sharper drop heading into year-end, with 243 vehicle thefts reported between Dec. 1 and Dec. 21. With several days remaining in the month, those numbers could increase before year-end.

As of Sunday (Dec.21), 3,041 stolen vehicle cases had been successfully solved, 140 are still being investigated, and 1,541 were deemed unsolved. Of the stolen vehicles, 3,367 are cars, 260 are motorcycles, 879 are trucks, and 216 are listed as “others.”

The following map shows where this year’s auto thefts took place:

The data also highlights the top 20 common hotspots for car thefts in Peel region:

• Airport Road
• Argentia Road
• Bloor Street
• Bovaird Drive
• Bramalea Road
• Britannia Road
• Burnhamthorpe Road
• City Centre Drive
• Courtney Park Drive
• Derry Road
• Dixie Road
• Dundas Street
• Great Lakes Drive
• Hurontario Street
• Kennedy Road
• Lakeshore Road
• Main Street
• Mississauga Road
• Peel Centre Drive
• Queen Street

Interestingly, in its annual report on the vehicles most targeted by thieves, Équité Association disclosed details on the top 10 most-stolen vehicles across Canada and Ontario, which include Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Dodge Ram 1500.

However, residents might breathe a sigh of relief, as vehicle thefts are notably lower this year compared to the same time last year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 7, 2024), when a total of 6,657 incidents were reported across Mississauga and Brampton.

Bryan Gast, national vice-president of investigative services at Équité Association, said in a report released in late July that a sharp drop in vehicle thefts during the first half of the year was driven by greater public awareness of the threat and coordinated efforts by governments and law enforcement agencies.

Here are some noteworthy car theft incidents from the year:

• $1.4M worth of stolen trucks and vehicles seized in commercial raid north of Brampton
• Chop shop with $1.45M in trucks, trailers and cargo in Mississauga leads to charges for Brampton men
• ‘High-risk takedown’ of carjackers leads to charges for Brampton teen, police say
• Carjackings, home invasions near Toronto lead to arrests of Mississauga, Brampton men
• PARTIAL LOCKDOWNS: 2 schools on alert after carjacking in Mississauga
• VIDEO: Violent home invasions, car thefts ‘terrify’ Mississauga, Brampton residents

Examining the trends in car thefts, some areas are more vulnerable than others and local residents are urged to exercise additional 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.