Multiple tow trucks set ablaze overnight in Brampton: Cops

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Police are investigating the latest rash of tow-truck arsons that occurred overnight Tuesday in Brampton.

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Peel Regional Police said four tow trucks were targeted across Brampton within minutes of each other.

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Fires deliberately set: Cops

Officer Manny Khatra, a police spokesperson, said at a media briefing at police headquarters Tuesday afternoon that two tow trucks and another vehicle were deliberately set on fire shortly after 1 a.m. on Cassinway Rd., near Airport Rd. and Countryside Dr.

“Fortunately, that incident, there were no physical injuries sustained,” Khatra said. “The suspect fled the area prior to police arrival.”

The second arson, which took place less than 20 minutes later, saw a parked tow truck engulfed in flames on Legend Lane near McLaughlin Rd. and Bovaird Dr.

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The third happened minutes later on Worthington Ave., north of Bovaird Dr., where police believe a tow truck parked on the street was deliberately set on fire.

“Right now, our 21 Division and 22 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives are very actively working on this investigation and asking anyone who may have been in the area, dash cam footage, video surveillance, or any other information or details pertaining to this to please contact them directly,” Khatra said.

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No suspect or vehicle descriptions

Police currently do not have any suspect descriptions or information about the vehicles involved.

“There could have been one or more suspects involved in this,” Khatra said.

Meanwhile, police are not ruling out any connections to other similar tow-truck arsons in recent days and months.

“While we believe that these arsons are targeted, our investigators are keeping all different avenues open to see if these are connected or not,” Khatra said.

“Obviously, given the way they’ve occurred, especially the timeframe overnight, that’s definitely a lead that they are exploring,” Khatra said.

Multiple companies hit by fires

Khatra said multiple companies have seen their vehicles damaged in recent days.

On Saturday, police investigated a tow-truck fire that occurred in a driveway of a home on Butterworth Rd., near Creditview Rd. and Bovaird Dr., according to one report.

And earlier this month, a suspicious tow-truck fire on Muskoka St., near Kennedy Rd. and Bovaird Dr., was investigated by police.

Khatra said he couldn’t confirm if organized crime is at the root of these fires as the investigation is in its early stages

“It’s unknown at this time exactly the depth of these arsons,” he said. “Crimes of this nature … could potentially be organized. That will be part of the investigation and we’ll look into all different avenues.”

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