In Toronto this year, nearly 15% of all shooting incidents were related to the tow truck industry.
Yes, you read that right.
Driving the news: Toronto towing has been overrun by organized crime for years. Violent incidents like arson and shootings have crept up this year — including the assassination of a suspected criminal towing kingpin. In June, Toronto police established a special task force.
- So far this year, police across the Greater Toronto Area have taken 75 trucks off the road and laid 1,375 criminal charges as they target “bad actors” in the towing world.
Why it’s happening: Crime groups flocked to towing for two simple reasons: it was lucrative and sparsely regulated. While some towing fees are capped, operators can charge big bucks for storage and get kickbacks for referring clients to mechanics, law firms, and physio clinics.
- All this money has led to fierce competition, resulting in turf wars and shady operators charging perfectly legit companies fees to enter their territories… or else.
Zoom out: While Toronto’s situation is particularly dramatic, towing corruption is a wider Canadian problem. Montréal towing has also been riddled with crime, Winnipeg police are probing the city’s towing contracts, and groups in Calgary are warning of predatory towing.—QH