5 cars seized by cops, numerous stunt driving charges laid after latest blitz at Mississauga mall
Five cars were pulled off the road and numerous stunt driving charges were filed in the latest blitz by peel cops targeting ongoing and illegal late-night racing and other activity at a north Mississauga mall.
Peel Regional Police say four of the vehicles seized last weekend during continued late/overnight patrols in the empty car park of Westwood Square shopping center in Malton were hijacked because the drivers were performing illegal stunts such as drifting and made donuts.
The fifth vehicle was taken from the driver due to lack of insurance.
In addition, police said six stunt driving charges were filed, seven criminal code charges were filed and 24 provincial felony charges were served.
Increased policing of Westwood Square and other areas of Mississauga and Brampton dealing with similar nighttime noise and disturbances from motor racing has been deployed for about a month after numerous complaints to the Mississauga Ward City Police Department 5 including Council Member Carolyn Parrish .
Parrish said the problems at Westwood Square, which is in her community, have been going on for more than a year and that she is concerned that angry and frustrated residents near the mall are taking the law into their own hands and the noisy street racers would confront .
She has repeatedly said that Peel Police did their best but simply weren’t equipped with the resources to pay special attention to the night’s trouble spot, Malton.
However, police have been paying particular attention to the matter in recent weeks and to date have seized a number of vehicles and brought numerous charges.
Continued patrol of the Westwood Shopping Center in Malton by our 12 Divisional Officers over the weekend resulted in the following:
6 Stunt Ride Fees
5 vehicles impounded (4 for stunting and 1 for lack of insurance)
7 allegations of the Criminal Code
24 Provincial Offensive Notices served#Drive carefully pic.twitter.com/UwqEaWaFEI— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) March 28, 2023
A police crackdown in late February on the illegal stunt drivers and street racers doing their thing resulted in dozens of charges as cops and local politicians banded together to try to stamp out the worrisome and worsening problem.
While recent police raids targeted the troubling behavior in Westwood Square, the problem of stunt drivers revving up their cars and racing late at night and overnight in mall and industrial park lots is a Mississauga-wide problem, city councilors say.
What’s more, it’s a Peel-wide problem, said Peel-area councilors and police officers.
And with warmer weather in spring and summer, the already big headache for residents, local politicians and police may get worse, Mississauga Ward 8 Alderman Matt Mahoney previously warned.
Parrish said earlier this year she was concerned people could get hurt or “someone get killed” as frustrated and sleepless residents could take matters into their own hands.
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