Thief Steals Car in Tarzana Using Fake Tow Truck Scam

Car Theft in Tarzana

• 🚗 A homeowner in Tarzana had their car stolen in the middle of the night by a thief posing as a repo man.
• 💡 The suspect parked an unmarked white truck in front of the victim's car, hooked it up, and drove away, all captured on surveillance video.
• 📍 The victim discovered their 2010 Hyundai Elantra was missing when leaving for work early Wednesday morning.

Recovery and Damage

• 🚓 The stolen car was found by CHP hours later, several blocks from the owner's home, and taken to an impound lot.
• 💔 Upon recovery, the car was found to be significantly damaged, with the battery, catalytic converter, and engine manifold stolen.
• 💸 The car owner faced the additional burden of paying $400 to retrieve their damaged vehicle.

Security Expert Advice

• ⚠️ Security expert Joe LaRose notes a trend of thieves stealing not only parts but also electronics, tires, and rims to sell.
• 🔒 While it's difficult to prevent a vehicle from being towed, installing a real alarm can make a vehicle less attractive to thieves.
• 🛰️ Other recommended security measures include installing tracking software like GPS.