Peel police are celebrating major progress in the fight against auto thefts — with Mississauga and Brampton reporting a staggering 45% drop in stolen vehicles so far this year.
Once dubbed the car theft capital of Canada, the region is finally seeing results after years of rising thefts and a record-setting 2023 that saw more than 7,500 vehicles stolen.
Peel Regional Police say aggressive action against organized crime and expanded joint-force operations have led to over $60 million in losses prevented so far in 2025.
“We’ve arrested more people, completed more projects, and participated in more operations than ever before,” said Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich.
Since January alone, police have laid 475 charges against 257 suspects, part of a larger crackdown that’s now seen over 1,100 auto theft charges against 543 individuals since 2023.
As of April 12, around 1,250 cars had been reported stolen in the region — a dramatic improvement compared to the same timeframe last year. Police have also recovered more than $26 million worth of vehicles, many of them intercepted before they could be shipped overseas.
The turnaround comes after Peel Police doubled the size of its auto crime unit and held multiple summits with auto industry leaders, pushing for better tech and tighter security at Canadian ports.
While auto theft remains a national issue — with Alberta still leading the country in per capita thefts — the drop in Peel signals that sustained, coordinated action can turn the tide.