Toronto police say there have been 60 tow-truck associated shootings within the metropolis in 2024, accounting for practically 15 per cent of all taking pictures incidents over the previous yr.
In a information launch distributed Monday, Ontario Provincial Police outlined the enforcement motion that has been taken by GTA police forces associated to “combat violence within the towing industry.”
“With an intelligence-led approach, policing partners are diligently working together to address criminality in the towing industry to identify, disrupt and dismantle organized crime groups violating regulations and exploiting other tow operators,” the OPP wrote.
In Toronto alone, 507 tow-related charges had been laid by Toronto police beneath the Freeway Visitors Act and Towing and Storage Security and Enforcement Act (TSSEA), in 2024 and three tow vans had been faraway from the highway.
“Gun violence tied to the tow truck industry continues to be a serious issue,” Toronto Police Workers Superintendent Joe Matthews, of detective operations, stated in a written assertion.
“We are addressing tow truck-related crimes through a service-wide approach, while keeping in mind that this violence stems from a small segment of the industry involved in territorial disputes.”
He added that Undertaking Beacon, an investigation led by the Tow Truck Process Pressure, resulted in six arrests and 184 charges laid in reference to a murder and tow-truck associated shootings this previous summer season.
“In 2024, law enforcement took proactive measures to ensure legitimacy within the Ontario towing industry, such as enforcement activities, removing illegitimate tow companies, trucks and operators from the road and laying TSSEA charges,” the OPP’s launch learn.
“The OPP Provincial Tow Program has aimed to improve public safety and help mitigate criminality in Ontario’s towing industry. In order to be an approved Towing and Storage Service Operator (TSSO), a tow operator or tow company must meet certain requirements, including a criminal record check, and certification through the Ministry of Transportation Ontario.”
