6,657 cars stolen in 2024 in Mississauga and Brampton, Ontario

As the year draws to a close, vehicle thefts continue to impact neighbourhoods in Mississauga and Brampton, with more than 6,500 incidents reported over the last 12 months.

From Jan. 1 to Dec. 7, Peel Regional Police data indicates a combined 6,657 vehicle thefts were reported across both cities — 3,456 in Mississauga and 3,185 in Brampton. In addition to these numbers, there were 10 incidents in Toronto, three in Caledon, two in Oakville, one in Milton, and one in Halton Hills 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 Feb. 1: 849 — 458 Brampton, 391 Mississauga
• Feb. 2 to Mar. 2: 646 — 301 Brampton, 341 Mississauga, (four Toronto)
• Mar 3 to April 4: 641 — 292 Brampton, 349 Mississauga
• April 5 to May 6: 640 — 310 Brampton, 328 Mississauga (one Toronto, one Oakville)
• May 7 to June 8: 627— 299 Brampton, 324 Mississauga (one each in Halton Hills, Oakville, Toronto and Vaughan)
• June 9 to July 10: 583  — 282 Brampton, 301 Mississauga
• July 11 to August 12: 661 — 316 Brampton, 344 Mississauga (one Milton)
• August 13 to Sept 14: 703 — 346 Brampton, 354 Mississauga (one Caledon, three Toronto)
• Sept. 15 to Oct. 16: 563 — 250 Brampton, 312 Mississauga (one Caledon)
• Oct. 17 to Nov. 18: 492 — 224 Brampton, 266 Mississauga (one Caledon, one Toronto)
• Nov. 19 to Dec. 7: 252 — 107 Brampton, 145 Mississauga

In the early months of 2024, just after the holidays, vehicle theft surged across the region, with 849 incidents reported between Jan. 1 and Feb. 1.

The following month saw a sharp drop of approximately 24%, with 646 thefts recorded from February to March.

However, as spring arrived, the numbers began climbing again, reaching 641 incidents by early April.

Early summer saw a steady decline, and by mid-July, thefts hit their lowest point of the year at 583 incidents. This period marked a brief reprieve before a renewed spike in thefts emerged.

Late summer saw thefts on the rise, reaching 661 incidents by mid-August and peaking at 703 between Aug. 13 and Sept. 14—the highest monthly total recorded in 2024.

The fall months saw a gradual decline, with incidents dropping to 563 between mid-September and mid-October. The downward trend continued into late October, with 492 thefts recorded between Oct. 17 and Nov. 18.

The most recent data from Nov. 19 to Dec. 7 shows a significant drop to 252 incidents. However, with several weeks remaining in the month, the final numbers could increase by year-end.

As of Dec. 7, only 193 stolen vehicle cases had been successfully solved, 5,076 were still being investigated and 1,388 were deemed unsolved.

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

The data also highlights the top 15 common hotspots for car thefts in Peel region:

• Airport Road
• Ambler Drive
• Argentia Road
• Britannia Road
• Burnhamthorpe Road
• City Centre Drive
• Courtneypark Drive
• Dixie Road
• Dundas Street
• Great Lakes Drive
• Hurontario Street
• Kennedy Road
• Rutherford Road
• Terminal Three Road
• Viscount Road

Interestingly, in its annual report on the vehicles most targeted by thieves, Équité Association disclosed details on the top 10 most stolen vehicles throughout Canada and Ontario, which included Lexus RX, Toyota Highlander and Dodge Ram 1500.

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. 16, 2023), when a total of 7,637 incidents were reported across Mississauga and Brampton.

Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah attributed this progress to dedicated policing efforts, stating earlier this year at the the second annual Peel police Auto Theft Summit, “While we continue to dedicate significant policing resources and see positive results in the work, we also need solutions from government and the automotive and insurance industries to address vulnerabilities that are contributing to auto theft.”

Here are some noteworthy car theft incidents from the year:

• $5M in stolen cars recovered; 5 Mississauga, Brampton residents among 8 charged
• VIDEO: Nearly naked man with loaded gun arrested in high-end vehicle thefts worth $1.5M in Toronto and Peel
• VIDEO: Brampton woman accused in ‘brazen’ carjacking charged with another auto theft in Toronto
• Service Ontario employees allegedly part of massive car theft ring
• Stolen Lexus found in Caledon ‘chop shop’; 2 Mississauga residents charged
• 77 cars stolen by group of thieves from Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga and nearby

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.