Saw this past Thursday (1/5/06 10:10p) at the FHB parking lot across Ala Moana and it was pretty weird so I thought I'd do a post.

So I park my car on Kapiolani, ready to go lift when this tow truck pulls into the lot w/ this black RSX. The tow truck driver pulls up to the front doors of the bank parking lot & lowers the car. Thinking that was odd, I watch as the tow driver gets out, gets some tools & starts jacking the passenger-side door. I watch the guy for what must've been 10 minutes as he tried to get the door open. When he finally opens the door the car alarm goes off and I see the driver rifling through the glove compartment & console. I know this cause I actually walked right in front of him by the ATMs, and people were actually driving up to the ATMs looking at the tow guy like WTF?

By this time, the tow guy gets nervous, pops the hood, and the alarm shuts off (probably cut off the battery), slams the hood & door, jumps back in the truck, raises the car, and drives off in a hurry.

So I call the HPD & explained what happened. The cop couldn't file a report cause there was no evidence of a crime but did confirm the towing company that did that: Hook-Up Towing. When I got my car towed by Ace Towing, I asked them how I'd know if anything was taken from the car; they told me that they aren't allowed to enter the car b/c of liability but that they just 'secure' it. The cop told me that the only real reason to enter a locked car is to put the transmission in neutral to prevent drivetrain damage. But isn't that what dollies are for? Besides, the car was already being towed on its rear wheels (FWD) & the car was ALREADY being towed. So either the tow guy already f-cked up the RSX's drivetrain or he was looking for something to steal. And if the car was towed from the FHB lot, pretty dick: at 10p that lot was about 1/5 full of cars, & they weren't at the bank. (Had a G35c in the lot, too.)

The cop said that the owner's only recourse is to sue the towing co. in small claims court. That's where their liability insurance comes in.

Seriously, I've heard horror stories of how towing companies would go around 'shopping' for cars that were illegally parked, pick the nicest ones (or the rental ones since tourists have cash), & tow 'em, or collect 'unhook' fees & go to the next victim. (That's what happens on North Shore around holidays, or so I'm told.) But I've never heard of something like this happening, much less eyewitness it.

If you own/know the owner of an '04-'05 black Acura RSX (had red-out taillamps), towed from Ala Moana FHB parking lot on 1/5/05 at 10:10p, check your car for missing stuff/damages. I have the cop's name also.

Bottom line: don't get your car towed but if you do, check your car.

LICENSE: NJV 872
Hook-Up Towing
486.4665

 

I totaled a car a few years ago and when I went to the salvage yard to collect what I could all the silver change out of the ashtray was gone. Whoever took it actually picked through it and left the pennies. There was probably 6 or 7 bucks there. I thought that was nice since I had to be pulled from the car and taken to the hospital.

 

Another reason could be that the car is being repo'd. That could be the reason for the entry. If the banks owns it they don't care how they get it back as long as they get it.
Also alot of the business in the area contract tow company to tow trespass vehicles. This would not allow them to enter the vehicle.
So, if the vehicle is not reported stolen. I would beleive the vehicle was repo'd. The officer could have called in a checked..