A person is captured on film checking car doors in Brampton this past winter.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople trust that police are doing their job on the big issues of crime in the city,\u201d Santos told the board. \u201cBut on a day-to-day, night-to-night basis, they\u2019re feeling like they\u2019re not being taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n
The survey, conducted between February and April, collected 161 submissions from residents across Brampton. According to Santos\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
A recurring theme throughout the report was under-reporting. Many respondents said they no longer contact Peel Regional Police because they believe \u201cnothing gets done,\u201d citing slow response times, a lack of follow-up and previous experiences where reports appeared to go nowhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d Santos said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah acknowledged the concern, saying quality-of-life crimes affect residents\u2019 confidence in their communities even when they are not considered the highest policing priorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cPetty crimes are the ones that impact everybody and erode people\u2019s confidence, not just in the safety of where they live, but also accessing us or our response and capability,\u201d Duraiappah told the board.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to get an officer to some of the different calls, but they\u2019re the number one priority in citizens\u2019 eyes, without a doubt,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Police leaders said they are working to improve communication and reporting options for residents. Deputy Chief Mark Dapat said feedback gathered during Santos\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue to press into the spaces where we can connect with them more actively and in real time,\u201d Dapat said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Mayor Patrick Brown, who attended Santos\u2019 community safety town hall, said there remains a gap between what residents are discussing online and what is ultimately reported to police.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe video of someone checking the doors is shared in a WhatsApp group, everyone complains, the police haven\u2019t responded, but it actually hasn\u2019t been reported to the police,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they simply know that there is police watching what they\u2019re sharing, that might be enough for them to get peace of mind,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n