Residents losing faith in reporting petty crime, Brampton councillor warns

Many Brampton residents believe petty crimes such as vehicle break-ins, package thefts and overnight car door checking are not receiving enough attention from police, leading some to stop reporting incidents altogether, Regional Councillor Rowena Santos told the Peel Police Services Board at a recent meeting.

Presenting the findings of a community survey and recent town hall meeting, Santos said residents repeatedly expressed frustration that reports of lower-level crimes are often met with little follow-up, creating the perception that police are either uninterested in or too busy to investigate.

“People trust that police are doing their job on the big issues of crime in the city,” Santos told the board. “But on a day-to-day, night-to-night basis, they’re feeling like they’re not being taken care of.”

The survey, conducted between February and April, collected 161 submissions from residents across Brampton. According to Santos’ report, the most common complaint involved individuals systematically checking vehicle doors overnight and stealing items from unlocked cars. Residents also reported garage break-ins, porch package thefts, vandalism and trespassing.

A recurring theme throughout the report was under-reporting. Many respondents said they no longer contact Peel Regional Police because they believe “nothing gets done,” citing slow response times, a lack of follow-up and previous experiences where reports appeared to go nowhere.

“The aggregate of all of those issues and complaints has a direct impact on their perception and their peace of mind on safety in their neighbourhood,” Santos said.

She noted that many residents now capture suspicious activity on home security cameras and share videos through neighbourhood WhatsApp and social media groups, often showing the same suspects moving through multiple communities. While residents appreciate investments in tackling organized crime, auto theft and violent offences, Santos said they want reassurance that everyday neighbourhood concerns are also being addressed.

The report found roughly 55 incidents involving thefts from unlocked vehicles and another dozen involving break-ins to locked vehicles. Santos argued the true number is likely much higher because many incidents go unreported.

Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah acknowledged the concern, saying quality-of-life crimes affect residents’ confidence in their communities even when they are not considered the highest policing priorities.

“Petty crimes are the ones that impact everybody and erode people’s confidence, not just in the safety of where they live, but also accessing us or our response and capability,” Duraiappah told the board.

He agreed that residents can become disillusioned when they feel concerns are not being heard and said police need to give those issues greater attention.

“It’s hard to get an officer to some of the different calls, but they’re the number one priority in citizens’ eyes, without a doubt,” he said.

Police leaders said they are working to improve communication and reporting options for residents. Deputy Chief Mark Dapat said feedback gathered during Santos’ community safety town hall highlighted the need for better outreach, particularly for seniors, newcomers and residents who may not be comfortable using online reporting tools.

Dapat said Peel police have developed relationships with more than 250 community social media groups, reaching an estimated 200,000 residents through community ambassadors who share crime trends, safety information and neighbourhood concerns with police.

“We will continue to press into the spaces where we can connect with them more actively and in real time,” Dapat said.

Police also pointed to improvements to online reporting systems, including the ability to upload photos and videos, automated incident numbers and a structured follow-up process intended to keep residents informed about their reports.

Mayor Patrick Brown, who attended Santos’ community safety town hall, said there remains a gap between what residents are discussing online and what is ultimately reported to police.

“The video of someone checking the doors is shared in a WhatsApp group, everyone complains, the police haven’t responded, but it actually hasn’t been reported to the police,” Brown said.

Santos said residents want to be part of the solution but need to feel that someone is listening when they report crimes. She urged police to strengthen community connections and improve follow-up so residents regain confidence that their concerns matter.

“If they simply know that there is police watching what they’re sharing, that might be enough for them to get peace of mind,” she said.