The OPP Provincial Auto Theft and Towing Team says it is diligently working to address criminality in the towing industry to identify, disrupt, and dismantle organized crime groups violating regulations and exploiting other tow operators.
"Police are aware of ongoing criminality and violence committed by a small percentage of bad actors within the towing industry, and endeavour to lead proactive and intelligence-led investigations to identify those involved and lay charges," says a release. "Most tow companies and operators are not involved in organized crime or criminal activities and follow regulations under the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act .
In 2024, law enforcement ramped up action against the Ontario towing industry, such as enforcement activities, removing illegitimate tow companies, trucks and operators from the road and laying TSSEA charges. 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 , a tow operator or tow company must meet certain requirements, including a criminal record check, and certification through the Ministry of Transportation Ontario.Anyone with information about criminality in the towing industry is encouraged to contact their police service of jurisdiction. If you feel intimidated or threatened by anyone in the towing industry, do not engage, keep your distance, and contact the police.
"Gun violence tied to the tow truck industry continues to be a serious issue, with 60 tow-truck related shootings this year, accounting for 14 per cent of all shooting incidents in Toronto," says TPS Staff Superintendent Joe Matthews of Detective Operations. "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.