Ongoing turf wars within the towing industry are believed to be behind the torching of several tow trucks in Brampton early Monday, according to sources familiar with investigations across the Greater Toronto Area.
Peel Regional Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident as a suspected arson after multiple tow trucks were destroyed at a yard near Rutherford Road and Glidden Road in the early hours of Jan. 5. Police say four or five suspects are believed to have been involved. No injuries were reported, and investigators have not released suspect descriptions.
While Peel Regional Police have not publicly identified who they believe is responsible, sources say the attack appears linked to long-running tow truck turf wars, in which operators backed by criminal elements allegedly use intimidation and violence to force competitors out of business.
For several years, police services across Southern Ontario have been dealing with similar incidents involving the towing industry. Investigations have connected organized crime groups to arsons, shootings, assaults and extortion schemes tied to control of lucrative towing routes and contracts.
“This is ongoing and continues to be a problem as rival groups try to muscle out competitors,” one source told INsauga.com. “There have been repeated incidents and reports of intimidation, and this issue has been on the radar of police services across the GTA.”
Incidents linked to towing-related violence have been reported in Peel, York, Durham and Halton regions, as well as in Toronto. In some cases, shots have been fired at offices, drivers have been assaulted, and murders have been linked to disputes within the industry.
Peel police have previously carried out major enforcement actions targeting organized crime in the towing sector. In 2024, investigators launched Project Outsource, which led to the arrest of 19 people accused of extortion, staged vehicle collisions and acts of violence tied to towing operations in Brampton. Police also seized millions of dollars in assets.
In January last year, Toronto Police Service announced arrests under Project Yankee, an investigation that included murder charges and focused on criminal groups allegedly using violence to gain control of the towing industry.
That was followed in June, when Peel police seized tow trucks and arrested 18 people in another extortion probe. Most recently, in December, officers arrested three individuals in connection with a tow truck-related shooting in Brampton.
Police say the investigation into Monday’s arson remains ongoing.