Over the past 31 days, Mississauga and Brampton experienced more than 180 break-and-enter incidents.

Peel Regional Police data reports 186 such incidents from February 6 to March 8. Of these, 113 occurred in Mississauga, while 73 were in Brampton.

This marks a 12% increase from the previous month, which saw 166 incidents.

The data reveals the following locations were targeted:

81 houses

6 apartments

2 residential garages or sheds

17 restaurants

3 construction sites

1 school

19 stores

3 gas stations

2 offices

1 pharmacy

8 categorized as “other”

43 marked as “unidentified” businesses.

The most frequent break-in hotspots this month were:

Hurontario Street: 3 incidents

Lakeshore Road: 6 incidents

Mississauga Road: 3 incidents

Queen Street: 11 incidents

Steeles Ave: 3 incidents

As of March 8, investigations are ongoing in 169 cases, 13 have been solved, and 4 remain unsolved.

Notable trends from the past month include:

Peel Police highlight that properties like corner lots, homes backing onto parks or open spaces, and those that appear poorly maintained or vacant are more vulnerable to break-ins. “Residential break-ins are often crimes of opportunity,” Peel Police state. “Burglars tend to target properties that provide a higher likelihood of success without detection.”

To help prevent break-ins, residents are encouraged to:

Keep shrubs and hedges trimmed to ensure clear sightlines to windows and doors.

Always lock garage and screen doors, even when at home.

Build relationships with neighbors and look out for each other’s properties.

Consider adding a second lock on windows and sliding doors.