Criminals give tow truck operators bad name: business owner

YorkRegion.com
April 2, 2014
By Tim Kelly

Last Friday’s high-profile police weapons and drug bust that also involved businesses tied to the tow truck industry in York Region has at least one local driver concerned.

Project Tugboat, which resulted in the seizure of 10 guns, including five handguns, four assault rifles, ammunition and the confiscation of 8.5 pounds of opium, 13 kilos of cocaine worth $750,000 and $76,000 in cash, also drew in auto collision and tow-truck industry businesses in related frauds.

That has tow truck company owner Rob Mileto of Streetpro Roadside Assistance in Vaughan worried.

“Never in my life, in 28 years in Vaughan of running this business, have I seen anything like this. Now, the cops are pulling over all the tow trucks and they’re checking. It can just ruin the whole business,” Mr. Mileto said.

Though those charged are from Richmond Hill, Mr. Mileto said he was upset that everybody might be suspect.

“It doesn’t matter where it is, it still looks bad on all of us. Everybody has too much to lose,” he said.

One Richmond Hill resident was charged last Friday among 18 people arrested in the year-long investigation.