Tow truck turf war heats up in Ontario as more vehicles burn

Another night, another tow truck fire in Brampton.

Police say a tow truck was deliberately set on fire in the driveway of a home in the early hours of today (April 30), marking the latest in a weeks-long surge of incidents believed to be tied to escalating conflicts within the towing industry.

The fire broke out just before 3 a.m. on Kingknoll Drive, near McLaughlin Road South and Steeles Avenue West.

No injuries were reported, but the truck sustained extensive damage.

Police have not released any suspect information. In many of these cases, however, descriptions have been limited to individuals dressed in dark clothing and wearing masks—details that have done little to advance investigations.

The latest incident follows a string of similar fires. On Tuesday, police responded to a tow truck fire on Ascot Road in Brampton, while on April 21, arson was confirmed in four separate tow truck fires at three locations across the city.

READ MORE: Tow truck turf wars believed to be behind arson fires in Brampton

Other incidents have also been reported in neighbouring municipalities, including Mississauga earlier this month, Burlington in February, and multiple cases in Brampton in January.

While Peel Regional Police have not publicly confirmed a connection to organized turf disputes, sources indicate investigators are examining whether the fires are linked to ongoing conflicts between rival towing operators.

“It shouldn’t come as a surprise what is going on,” a source familiar with the situation told INsauga.com. “Towing companies have been fighting for years over who operates where. But now there are criminal elements involved, trying to push competitors out. Burning trucks sends a message—keep operating, and your vehicle could be destroyed.”

The violence has extended beyond arson. In recent months, there have been reports of gunfire targeting businesses, assaults on drivers, and even homicides linked to the industry. Incidents have been reported across Peel, York, Durham, and Halton regions, as well as in Toronto.

Police have launched several major investigations to combat the crimes.

In 2024, Peel Regional Police’s Project Outsource targeted a criminal network involved in extortion, staged collisions, and violence tied to the towing industry in Brampton. Nineteen people were arrested, and millions of dollars in assets were seized.

Earlier, a Toronto Police investigation known as Project Yankee resulted in multiple arrests, including suspects facing murder charges, in what investigators described as efforts by criminal groups to gain control of the towing sector through violence.

More recently, Peel police seized tow trucks and arrested 18 individuals in June as part of an extortion probe. In December, three people were arrested in connection with a tow truck-related shooting in Brampton.