Public Awareness Alert: Theft from Vehicles

Region of Peel – In an ongoing effort to communicate our concerns to Mississauga residents regarding their potential victimization resulting from thefts from motor vehicles, investigators would like to provide information concerning increased thefts from cars in the Mississauga area and across the Region of Peel.  

Through an analytical approach, using reports to identify hotspot areas, Peel Regional Police 11 Division uses the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan (CSWB) to address this issue.

Things to Keep in Mind:

An unlocked door or an open window is an invitation for an opportunistic criminal to access your vehicle.

On average, a thief will spend anywhere from seconds to several minutes searching through an unlocked vehicle for valuable items.  

Theft from Vehicle Crime Statistics:

Between 2017 to 2019, Peel Regional Police had over 13,000 “reported” thefts from vehicle occurrences.

During a 16-week period from July 1, 2020, to October 6, 2020, investigators at 11 Division have received 114 thefts from vehicle reports, with new incidents reported daily. However, investigators believe that hundreds of thefts from vehicles go unreported each year.

From those 114 reported thefts combined, 11 Division residents were relieved of thousands of dollars’ worth of their property. 

What Thieves Are Looking for:

Property items stolen commonly include, but are not limited to, money, bank cards, cell phones, laptops, GPS, sunglasses, identification documents, tools, and garage openers, leading to further more intrusive thefts.

Protect Yourself from These Type of Crimes:

• Avoid storing valuables or packages in plain view within your vehicles (either remove valuables, place them out of sight or in your trunk).

• Lock all doors and close all windows.

• If possible, park your vehicles inside a locked garage, or in a well-lit area covered by surveillance cameras and/or motion sensors.

• Never leave your keys in an unattended vehicle.

• Consider the use of tamper-resistant screws to secure your license plates.

Tip: Ensure your auto insurance includes comprehensive coverage to cover any break-ins.

What Else:

• If you see any unauthorized person(s) accessing your vehicle, contact the police immediately.
• If you notice that someone has accessed your vehicle and removed items, please file your report online.
• If you discover that your bank cards have been stolen, contact your financial institute to cancel the card(s) and inquire whether there has been any unauthorized activity on those card(s).

Peel Regional Police understands the impact property crime has on the public. If you see any suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, report this type of crime to the police, and practice the crime prevention strategies mentioned above.

Check out this video and our website for more great tips and consider joining or activating a Neighbourhood Watch program in your community.

Stay tuned for more helpful information during Crime Prevention and Community Safety month beginning November 1, 2020. Useful tips will be posted daily on all our social media sites to educate and help you avoid becoming a victim.

To view the areas affected by this type of crime in the Region of Peel, visit our website’s Crime Mapping system.

For media inquiries, please contact the on-duty Media Relations Officer at 905-453-2121, ext. 4027.  

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Peel Regional Police – A Safer Community Together