Arson suspected after more tow truck fires in Aurora, Markham

[TowNews]

 

York Region police are looking for witnesses following tow truck fires in Markham and Aurora, the latest in a growing list of similar disturbing incidents.

 

On Tuesday at about 5 a.m., a tow truck was discovered on fire on Hartwell Way, just west of William Graham Drive, near St. John’s Sideroad and Leslie Street in Aurora, Sgt. Andy Pattenden said.

 

Police believe the fire was intentionally set.

 

There were no physical injuries.

 

The investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious is asked to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the No. 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7142.

 

Meanwhile, on Monday at about 7 a.m., a tow truck was found on fire in a parking lot in the area of 19th Avenue and Hwy. 404 in Markham, Pattenden said.

 

Police believe the fire, which was extinguished by Markham firefighters, was deliberately set, he said.

 

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[TowNews]

 

Cops probing arson, gunplay in escalating tow truck turf war

 

The tow truck turf war in the GTA continues to escalate.

 

In the first three days of February, there were three incidents adding to the numerous previous cases where tow trucks were torched or fired upon.

 

“We have certainly seen it happen in the past. We have ongoing work, with tow trucks in particular,” OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said Tuesday.

 

OPP in Aurora are investigating a shooting that occurred on Saturday at 1:45 a.m. where a man and a woman in a stationary tow truck were shot at on the Steeles Ave. westbound ramp to Hwy. 404 northbound.

 

Schmidt says the man was shot in the legs but the woman wasn’t struck. The man was treated in hospital and released.

 

On Monday just after 7 a.m., York Regional Police were called to a parking lot in the area of 19th Ave. and Hwy. 404 for a tow truck fire that police say was “intentionally set.” They are looking for any dashcam video from anyone driving in the area at the time.

 

Then on Tuesday shortly after 5 a.m., York cops were called to another intentionally set tow truck fire in the Hartwell Way and William Graham Dr. area of Aurora. There were no injuries.

 

York Sgt. Andy Pattenden says the shootings and arson are an ongoing issue.

 

“There are a lot. It’s not just in York, it’s right across the GTA,” Pattenden said, adding, “I don’t have a formal comment on the incidents. We have to treat each one individually.

 

Numerous tow trucks have been set ablaze from Peel to Durham in the last eight months.

 

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