I called the police because no one authorized a tow truck to remove my vehicle from the private property which is a 55+ senior living community.
I reported my vehicle stolen. Because we had an eye-witness that stated it was a white tow truck, the officer checked the database several times to make sure it was not in the tow database. It was not in the tow database & tow companies are required to report the tow within one-hour; and since it was already almost 3 hours when it was towed, the officer made a stolen vehicle report. I also called local towing companies who all verified via my license plate & vin that they did not tow my vehicle.
I called Mr. Cs towing company on 3 separate occasions & each time they confirmed they did not tow my car. Then a neighbor was kind enough to share their video footage of the tow truck. I was able to make out the phone number on the truck & it was in fact Mr. C's & the same # I had already called 3 times So I called Mr. C's again and at this point I was shaking but I told them, you lied to me, you did tow my car I have video footage it was your tow truck & has the same phone # I've been calling. The girl rudely replied, "you'll have to pay $480 to get the vehicle out of the tow yard". I told her absolutely not, & asked her why did you tow my vehicle? She said, "because it was parked illegally".
Not true. I had my vehicle parked right in front of my elderly parent's mobile home unit to take groceries out & a 40 pack of water bottles, when I went back to my car about 45 minutes later to get the water bottles... my car was gone. And I panicked because I needed my car to pick up my parent from the dialysis clinic
I go to the tow yard in Huntington Park that same night and the person behind the non-see-through reception window tells me he will not release my car without me paying the $480.
Anyway, I left the tow yard because I realized it was a scam, I was being scammed and figured I will return with a police officer in the morning, besides my vehicle has already been reported stolen.
The next morning I found out that in September of 2022, Mr. Cs towed a vehicle from a different unit, so now I have a victim witness. I called Mr. C's to give them a last chance before I filed criminal charges and told them I have all this evidence that what they did was illegal per CA vehicle code 22513. They said they didn't care they "heard it all before, your threats aren't helping you", and I still need pay to get my car back and all of a sudden the fee was $342 instead of the $480. He also said $342 before 5pm or it would be more after. So again, scam scam scam!!!
The HP police officers told me to pay the money and take them to court.
How are the officers allowing this scam? I told the officers this is a scam and I want to file a criminal complaint. This tow company drives around unsolicited like a shark in this senior citizen community to snatch cars & force payment to release the vehicle. Finally the police officer told me to wait outside and he talked to the tow people and as a "favor" to the officer they released my car without payment. The tow person made me sign a receipt and they didn't give me a copy. I regret signing it because it's a scam what they tried to do to me but I need my car and signed out of desperation and under duress.
I am grateful and thanking God, the neighbors and the officers that helped me because I can't afford the fee... BUT IT IS STILL A SCAM, they can't be doing this to people, especially in an already low-income area and senior citizen community it's criminal of them to do this. I pray they get caught someday or at least pray that no one else falls victim to them.
Anyway, thanks to my neighbors that told me about the car being towed and the other neighbor sharing their video footage and the other who told me which neighbor is friends with the tow guy.
Also, to the neighbor that is friends with the tow guy, you are unkind, I'm pretty sure you tipped him off to go take my car. I wonder if you get some type of payment? The thing is I am allowed to park there temporarily for putting shopping away, getting parent or passengers in and out etc. Before we were allowed to park overnight but you complained and it resulted in parking signs installed everywhere and no overnight parking was enforced- that's fine no biggie!
But that was not the case in my situation, I was there temporarily and I do that at least 3 times a week on days of dialysis treatment and the park manager knows that! And I don't plan to change my routine for your convenience! And as a matter of fact I will park there again in the same spot as needed. I will file criminal charges on your friend if he steals / illegally tows my car again. read more