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More than one in 10 shootings in Toronto since the start of the year have involved tow trucks. (Archive photo)
Photo : CBC / Angelina King
Posted yesterday at 3:17 p.m. EDT
Toronto police are reporting more shootings linked to vehicle towing. In response, she founded a new intervention unit.
Over the past six months, Toronto and area have seen an increase in criminal activity surrounding a small segment of the tow truck industry.
says the staff superintendent Joe Mathews during a press conference.
Since January 1, 2024, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) has recorded 24 shootings linked to tow trucks, or about 12% of the city’s total.
The new unit will be responsible for providing a proactive preventive response
with the participation of members of the intelligence services, the centralized shooting response team, traffic services, as well as divisional investigators and data analysts.
According to the police, Towing disputes in the Greater Toronto Area have historically revolved around territorial disputes and rivalries
.
Widespread increase in shootings
Overall, shootings in Toronto have increased by 74 per cent compared to the previous year. That’s more than one such incident per day.
Shooting deaths are also increasing even more sharply. Toronto Police has 24 in 2024, compared to 9 in 2023.
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