Police have increased patrols in a wealthy area of south Mississauga following a rise in car thefts, home invasions, and other crimes.

On December 10, senior officers from Peel Regional Police met with several hundred residents of the Lorne Park area to discuss concerns about the growing number of auto thefts, break-ins, and home invasions.

A police spokesperson confirmed that there has been a recent uptick in criminal activity in Lorne Park. In response, officers from the Community Incident Response Team and the Criminal Investigation Bureau have been deployed to actively patrol the area, helping ease the workload of front-line officers.

The meeting, which was organized by the newly formed Lorne Park Neighbourhood Safety Group, attracted over 400 residents and was attended by Peel police Deputy Chief Marc Andrews, Staff Supt. Hubert Hiltz, Supt. Josh Colley, and Mississauga Ward 2 Councillor Alvin Tedjo. The gathering, held at St. Bride Anglican Church, aimed to address community concerns about crime and share crime prevention strategies.

Peel police shared that approximately three percent of stolen vehicles in Mississauga are taken from the Lorne Park area. One resident mentioned in an email to INsauga.com that there has been a significant increase in break-ins and auto thefts, which led to the formation of the residents’ group.

The group also voiced concerns over the lack of response from senior government officials at the meeting, expressing frustration at the absence of meaningful solutions. They called for more accountability and coordination between all levels of government in addressing crime.

Among their demands, the group is seeking:

– Tougher bail laws from the federal government to keep violent criminals out of neighborhoods and deportation laws for non-citizen criminals involved in violent crime.
– A task force led by the federal government, involving RCMP, local police, and other levels of government, to tackle armed robberies and crime syndicates operating across provinces.
– The provincial government to increase staffing for judges and prioritize criminal accountability over criminals’ comfort.
– An increase in police patrols and quicker response times to 911 calls.