The bad news is that 724 vehicles have been stolen in Mississauga and Brampton since the beginning of the year.

The good news is that the number has dropped over the same time period as one year ago.

Still, that “good” news is of little comfort to the 724 victims who have had their car, truck, or SUV stolen in recent weeks.

The data, from the Peel Regional Police Crime Occurrence Mapping Portal, shows that the bad guys split their target areas, with Mississauga experiencing 384 thefts and Brampton recording 340.

Last year, between Jan. 1 and March 7, 851 vehicles were stolen in Mississauga and Brampton.

“The numbers are down, so that is a good sign,” said a law enforcement official who spoke to INsauga.com. “But it is still a problem. A major one.”

The official, who asked not to be named, said other crimes, such as extortion, have been front and centre in Peel Region the past few months, which has shifted the attention away from the car theft issue.

“Just because we are not hearing about it that much, doesn’t mean it is not happening,” the official said.

However, he said the decline in numbers indicates that measures taken by Peel Police to combat vehicle theft are working and should continue to be effective.

While the map shows that no neighbourhood is safe from car thieves in the two cities, there are a few pockets that have been targeted more frequently.

In Mississauga, those areas include Cooksville, Malton and the northeast quadrant of Highways 410 and 401. In Brampton, many of the thefts occur along Bovaird Drive.

Since March 1, 49 vehicles have been stolen in the two cities.

Police offer a few tips to keep your car safe:

Keep your car in the garage if you have one
Use a visible steering wheel lock
Install a lock on the data port of the vehicle that blocks access to the onboard computer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


INsauga’s Editorial Standards and Policies

Last 30 Days: 38,144 Votes

All Time: 1,252,739 Votes

476 VOTES
How often do you shop at brick-and-mortar clothing stores?

WIN A $100 GIFT CARD

Subscribe to INsauga’s daily email newsletter for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.