Tow company pays up after bodycam video shows missing wheels

The mystery of the missing wheels hit home with some people who saw the original Target 8 report in July. They called to offer Michael Couch their own wheels and money after his stolen 1995 Chevy Silverado came home after nearly four months in an impound lot without any wheels. (Aug. 30, 2022)

[jonnymac]

So let me get this straight, not only did they steal the wheels, but they didn't file paperwork for the man to find out they had his vehicle for several months until the time elapsed that they could send it to auction, and then didn't file more paperwork to let the police know they even had the vehicle? This is insane and they should be investigated for these practices.

[iriemo]

They fact they were charging $12k for a stolen car that the owner was never informed was there is ridiculous.

[Freespirit]

The police need to investigate this towing company and ask the public to come forward with any information about similar behavior.

[jscan]

The owner only paid because he got caught. Imagine all the other times he HASN'T been caught.

[patrickgrider]

They intentionally didn’t report the truck because they wanted that payday. I would check if this hasn’t happened before.

[JRyan-luim]

The classic, "my employee did it, but he's no longer working with us."

[corysm]

That towing company should be shut down. 12k for storage fees?! Seems like a rat owns that company.

[WakkasLove]

That company 100% needs investigated further great job by the reporter great job by the people trying to help.

[securi-t]

Tow companies are absolute scum. I've rarely dealt with one that treated me fairly. The worst one was when my wife's car was stolen. We had to wait 6 weeks for the insurance to pay out for the theft which I feel is fair. After a couple weeks of trying to survive commuting with one car, we had to buy another vehicle. We eventually did get a check from insurance, and a week later found out that her car had been in an impound lot less than 2 miles from our home. They sat on it just to drive up the storage fee to over $7000. When we told them to get lost becuase insurance already paid us out, they tried to tell us we committed fraud. I called my insurance agent (benefit of using a local agent, by the way) and showed them the letter we got from the impound lot that was dated a week AFTER the insurance company paid us out. My agent was livid with the tow company and filed a complaint. The last I heard that company lost their contract to do impounds for the city.

[kellybraille]

This kind of news investigation is INVALUABLE. These smaller cases would NEVER get resolved if it weren't for persistent journalists helping people out. Seriously, these types of reporters are worth their weight in gold. Whatever they are paid, it's not enough. The whole COMMUNITY thanks you for your hard work, persistence and dedication. Thank you so much!!

[deanna]

Companies like this will DENY any wrongdoing. Thankfully the man and officers who helped him had proof. They said it was picked up without wheels and that shows that the company lies upfront...

[hubertdeyette]

God bless this man. I worked for a company that would pick up and store cars and trucks that had been leased. One truck had a shell on the back. The person who had leased it came to take it off the truck. It was gone. We had over 80 drivers. They found out who took it. Told him to bring it back and he would not get arrested. He did get fired also.

[darrkstarg]

That owner knows exactly what happened. He knows exactly where those wheels went.

[mwaynem]

This kind of reporting is exactly what what we need. To expose some shady business. When they see their business on the news doing some questionable or down right dishonest things for the community to see they know their customers will go elsewhere. Your reporting works. Keep it up.

[sunvol]

One time when I was 18 my car was impounded because the registration was bad. When I went to pick it up from the tow company, I asked where my missing tools and clothes were. They said they took it to minimize their losses towing my car.
I remembered when the police take your car they do inventory of the contents. That's what saved me from losing my stuff so I thank the PD for that. I went to the cops and he said "This ain't happening in my town" and helped me after impounding me. I got my stuff back.

[mazzith]

The towing company should be charged with felony theft as the wheels are likely over $1000 mark.

[mbolicious]

Of course the owner knows everything! He’s just covering himself by blaming others!

[dracoxx]

its quite sickening taking advantage of that poor disabled old man, that towing company should be shutdown

[williamhelton]

Towing company knows exactly what happened to the original rims and tires or he wouldn't have settled so quickly when presented with the evidence. They need to be throughly investigated God knows how many more folks they did something similar too.

[dovebair]

I absolutely love this kind of investigative journalism! Thank you for helping the community and getting justice for those who otherwise would not!