Scarborough Tow Truck Operation Faces Closure Amidst Industry Violence
A Scarborough tow truck operation has suspended services due to increased violence, with over 20 drivers left jobless as management calls for police action in their letter detailing repeated attacks.
Management for a Scarborough tow truck operation has stated that they are being forced out of business due to ongoing violence in the industry.
In a letter sent on Wednesday, Urban Auto Collision management identified one of their drivers, Samuel Durani, as the tow truck driver who was seriously injured in a shooting near Kennedy Road and Progress Avenue on Tuesday night.
The letter was addressed to Durham, Toronto, and Ontario Provincial police, along with the office of Premier Doug Ford, as well as a Toronto Star reporter and other media outlets.
Urban operations manager Ranjit Kumar commented in an interview that the letter follows numerous violent incidents against their workers and persistent requests for police action. “Nobody is taking any action,” Kumar stated.
The letter details that the company’s shop has been shot at more than 15 times over the past year, with four drivers requiring hospitalisation due to gunshot wounds. This does not include the eight additional times their tow trucks have been targeted.
The letter claims the company has had to suspend its operations, leaving more than 20 drivers unemployed. “We are unable to continue if the police and government cannot help us,” the letter states.
Urban Auto expressed frustration over the lack of meaningful action by law enforcement, despite multiple attempts to raise awareness about the dangers within the towing industry. The letter also accuses officials, legal firms, operators, and other involved parties of collusion which they say has worsened the situation.
When contacted for comments, the Toronto Police Service noted that they could not address Urban's specific concerns, but mentioned recent initiatives to combat violence and corruption in the industry, including a new towing task force known as Project Dodger, launched earlier this month.
The police indicated that at least 70 per cent of the shootings in the city this year have been associated with the industry.
Urban Auto expressed doubt regarding Project Dodger, noting that historical patterns within the tow truck industry often result in operations that lead to arrests of tow truck owners and highlight the involvement of corrupt police officers.
This letter follows a Toronto Star report alleging that tow drivers are being illegally "taxed" for the right to operate on 400 series highways, resulting in violence against those who refuse or are unable to pay. It is suspected that these illegal payments, referred to as "union dues," may be linked to at least one murder and numerous arsons in the Greater Toronto Area since the middle of summer.
Project Dodger was announced on January 13 to address a concerning rise in gun violence tied to the industry. As part of this project, police plan to investigate violent incidents, including firearm discharges, shootings, and arsons, which have been attributed to territorial disputes among towing companies.
Project Dodger follows the previous "Project Beacon," which operated from June to August 2024, resulting in six arrests and 184 charges related to a homicide and several tow truck-related firearm incidents.
Superintendent Paul MacIntyre of Organized Crime Enforcement stated, “We remain committed to addressing tow truck-related crimes with a servicewide approach, acknowledging that this violence stems from a small segment of the industry.” In 2024, there were 63 firearm discharge and shooting incidents linked to tow truck disputes, which constituted nearly 13 per cent of all shootings in Toronto last year.
