Northern Ont. tire slasher strikes again, hitting tractor business in Powassan

Another case of tire slashing in North Bay after a Powassan tractor business sustained $200,000 in damage by an unknown vandal.

The infamous North Bay and area tire slasher has struck again, this time hitting a family business in Powassan that sells tractors and equipment and services farm equipment.

One of the owners of J & J Equipment Repair Inc., Joe Piekarski, came into work Tuesday morning and was shocked at what he found: tires slashed on about 50 new and used tractors, trailers and other equipment.

In total, just under 200 tires were damaged, causing an estimated $200,000 in damage. Piekarski doesn’t know if insurance will cover it all.

“Every vehicle, every trailer, everything in the yard is sitting on the rims,” he said.

“Every tire is flat.”

Piekarski’s security camera recorded a person in dark clothes, a hood over their head and hiding their face, walking around the property and slashing the tires with a weapon.

No vehicle was captured on camera and Piekarski said it’s likely rain washed away tracks or footprints.

Began in 2022

It’s just the latest case in the North Bay area. Cases of tires being slashed in the city first took place in August 2023, involving multiple vehicles in the area of Lee Park.

Then 22 tires were damaged on vehicles belonging to a business on Worthington Street East in December 2023.

Multiple tires were slashed on municipal vehicles parked at the Public Works facility on Franklin Street, causing an estimated $12,000 in damage.

Other vehicles then had their tires damaged in the area of Monk Street and near Lee Park in October 2024.

There were three instances in December 2024. In one case, 56 tires were damaged on Gormanville Road. Then two vehicles were damaged on Chippewa Street West. And 24 tires were slashed in a parking lot on McIntyre Street between Sherbrooke Street and Wyld Street.

No suspect has been found in any of the cases.

For his part, Piekarski said he’s never encountered anything like this in his 22 years in business. He can’t fathom why someone would cause severe damage to his business.

“There’s no reason for it. There’s no money to be gained from it,” he said.

Area farmers preparing for the harvest will feel the impact down the line as their machines that they’re waiting for will now be delayed as they wait for new tires.

Piekarski informed the Ontario Provincial Police and showed the video to investigating officers.

OPP Const. Rob Lewis confirmed to CTV News on Thursday afternoon that police are investigating.

“Hopefully with leads and what they have to work with, they’ll actually track this person down and put an end to it,” Piekarski said.

“But it’ll still never repay all the costs.”

He urges other businesses to beef up security.

“Get your cameras, get everything out there that can at least see if we can track this person down or persons and put a stop to it, because it’s costly,” Piekarski said.

Each tire, he said, costs between $600-$1,000, but some are specialized and will cost even more to replace. In addition, some tires have tubes that also need to be replaced.

Some of the larger tractor tires contain a calcium liquid used as ballast to act as a counterweight to help steady the tractors while lifting heavy loads.

Piekarski said that when those tires were punctured, liquid would shoot out and if it hit the eyes, it could lead to a visit the hospital.

He’s hoping police will check with hospitals to see if anyone checked in with eye irritation.