Southern California woman’s car stolen by thief in fake tow truck scam

A San Fernando Valley woman is warning the public to be aware after her car was stolen by thieves in a fake tow truck scam.

On April 30, the theft was caught on surveillance camera as a male suspect in a pickup truck pulled up in front of the victim’s home on Reseda Boulevard in Tarzana at 2 a.m. 

A wheel lift system had been installed in the truck bed. The victim, who was not identified out of safety concerns, said the vehicle was outfitted as a fake repossession truck to avoid appearing suspicious to bystanders.

The video shows the man hooking the woman’s black sedan to his truck before quickly driving away.

As the victim headed to work that morning, she stepped outside only to find car had disappeared. 

She called the police to discover her vehicle had not been impounded. She filed a stolen vehicle report and at 11 p.m. that night, authorities found her car abandoned on the side of the 101 Freeway near Tampa Avenue.

Her car was taken to the impound lot. When she finally retrieved it, she realized it had been stripped of its parts.

“I was in tears,” she said. “They had stolen the battery, stolen the catalytic converter, the engine manifold. They trashed and dented the car. I couldn’t believe it.”

The worst part, she said, was being forced to pay $400 to cover impound storage and towing fees, which she believes wasn’t fair because her car had been stolen.

She hopes that by sharing her story, residents are aware and remain on the lookout for any suspicious towing scams or drivers wandering the streets.