Unfortunately my vette met the divider wall on Northern State Parkway on Saturday after losing control on some black ice. Car is beyond totaled. Since it happened on the state parkway I had no option, but to use the state contracted tow company, Sabre Towing in Hicksville. Well today I went to go pick up my personal belongings to find out that they stole everything inside of it while it was at Sabre Towing/ Scappy Auto Body. Sub, box, amp and personal belongings in both the center console and glove compartment. Needless to say they thought since the car was totaled that my stuff is up for grabs. When I asked to speak to the owner, the manager, Nevil lied by telling me he was the owner when it is really Gene Scappy. They denied everything of course. I've tried to contact DOT to report it, with no call back. Nassau PD says it's a civil matter and can't do anything about it. I plan on suing them for the missing items. Any advice on next steps??? Thanks.

 

That really sucks Jay. Sorry to hear about that. I hope everything works out for you. Keep us posted. those tow companies are thieves. They steal all the time.. Good luck getting a court to believe you.

 

Rich
Not all tow companys.... there are a few good ones... Bills Towing of Hicksville / Petes Towing in Wesbury. I used to drive a tow truck the driver of each truck has to be fingerprinted and bonded.... not that anyone ever checks...


Jay,
a State lic. is hard to get..... keep up with contacting the state about the company dont give up

 

I had a similar incident happen to me years ago. You'd be hard-pressed to prove that anything was actually stolen. So sorry to hear of everything. I hope you used up your bad luck for the year.

 

If the police aren't any help in a theft (hard to believe!) I would think small claims court might be an option. I would also think that when a company takes possession of property with fees attached including storage I'm sure, they would be liable for the security of that property. Maybe a good idea to get multiple statements from friends and family concerning just what was in the car and now missing since the towing company took possession of your car?

 

Exactly how can a police department say that theft is a civil matter?

I know when my son totaled his Camaro years ago, I was waiting at the tow company when they opened the next morning. I told them that I was there to remove our personal belongings from the car and they said I couldn't. They claimed that I couldn't touch the car until the insurance company looked at it.

I told him to drop dead and walked right in and started removing everything from the car. They threatened to have me arrested for trespassing. I called their bluff and called the police myself. The officer arrived about the time I finished emptying the car. He said that it was a good thing I got my belongings, because they'd had a lot of trouble with theft at that yard.

Later the adjuster told me that it was good I got our belongings, because theft by towing companies, was a huge problem for them.

If the police won't do anything, talk to the local district attorney, and tell them what the police said. They may be able to put some pressure on the police.

It's bad enough that the car is a right off, without having your property ripped off too. Hopefully your okay.

 

That really sucks. Sorry for your loss but fortunately you are ok. Go after those azz holes that think they can just help themselves and get a hold of the real "owner" of that tow company. Maybe he'll fire someone.

 

I'm guessing dirty cops...

 

That sucks.

You would think so, whouldn't you Ed. But I guarantee there's a company policy about not being responsible for personal belongings posted somewhere.

Just shameful.

 

very good answer....

two parts to this;

I know Nevil, he is the owner (partner?)of Scappy... 'Scappy' mights have at one time or another was the operating owner, but Nevil runs/operates as the owner... I probably would guess his employees would not strip the car, more than likely someone might have climbed the fence and stole your stuff, they might have left your car outside the shop and it was broken in then...

NCPD & NYSP use Scappy on a daily basis for towing.... basically if you work for Scappy and get pulled over, a phone call will get you off the "hook" for most moving violation.... so do you think NCPD is going to make a police report? ummm, the correct answer is NO!

If you have receipts for your audio and personal stuff installed, have your ins adjuster put it in the value of your car. Keep in mind, if you going to take them to small claims court, you're going to need proof of your items purchased and prove they were in the car....

I highly recommend you search craigslist New York area for your audio equipment... if you see it, call that county PD and set up a buy.... if the seller is from Scappy employee, BINGO...

 

So far I've done the next best thing I can think of and contacted my insurance company to block any payment for hook,tow and storage.

Thanks for clarifying this. I'm going to contact the DA in the morning and get some heat put on this issue. I do have witnesses and pictures from the accident with the stolen items still in them before the tow came. Which were friends and family that came down right after the accident happened and could verify. I was thinking that maybe someone hopped the fence and stole it, but there was no broken glass and they claimed the car was "locked and sealed" throughout the time there. It's funny because they also said it was under a surveillance camera the whole time, but said no when asked to view the tape. I'm going to keep an eye out most definitely.

 

You can see how they went through out the whole car. I took the pic as how I received the car. Another reason I know it wasn't stolen from some kid/thug/ common car thief is someone did a clean job, by not hacking or pulling things. Everything was removed with tools.

If anyone see this for sale anywhere please contact me.

 

NYSDOT called back to let me know they are doing a full investigation. I also contacted the district attorney's office and new york state attorney general about the theft and misinformation given to me. My buddy in the FBI is also seeing what he can do.

 

My father in law owned a police towing out fit for 50+ years and was "ligit", nothing would ever be stolen by them, but people accused them of it all the time. (basically always the &%$# bags)
He would take loose high dollar items out of the car and lock them up inside for those in accidents etc, but those who did claim they stole everything from TV's to stereo's got absolutely no where with it, so unfortunately I doubt you will either. Sorry for your loss, best of luck with it.

 

Sorry for your loss. This really pisses me off. Shame there's lowlife scum in this world that will take advantage of someone in a situation like this. I wonder if they would have towed the car off the Northern State and dropped it in the street off the highway? If they would I would have called my own shop to come get it. I guess it's easy to say until it happens to you. These shops that tow off the highways are ruthless. Again sorry to hear about your car and I hope you get another one soon.

 

Not sure what you friend from FBI can do, only maybe to advise you what you can do.. But deff get the Nassau County DA investigate why a squad car would not make a police report and why Scappy did not show you their camera footage.....
First thing when a crime/theft is committed, the police check any video footage from the store...deff a cover up....

 

Just wondering.
What was the value of the contents that are missing?
Was some of the loss personal property as opposed to stereo and wire?
Do you have homeowners insurance?

Marty
1FUNZR1

 

I am sorry to hear about your trouble. If you have pictures of it all installed, your insurance company may want those too. The after pictures are telling because you can see that there was some equipment installed back there.

 

You are reporting a larceny (over $1K it's a felony) to the PD so it's not a civil matter (yet). The car was in possession of the tow company from the time it was towed and YOU are reporting that your property was there when it became the tow company's responsibility. You are the complainant and the PD is required to take your complaint. With the info you provide about the video surveillance at the lot, they have to investigate. Anything less than that and I'm sure the DA would like to know all about it!! Insist and don't take "no" for an answer. Document everything and consider recording any further interaction with the PD ... always write down names. Personally, I'd go back and INSIST that they prepare a report for larceny. Let them tell you that it's a civil matter on tape! Good luck.

 

The Nassau PD said theft is a civil matter?