In Late-Night Raid, Police Haul Away Allegedly Shady Tow Trucks
(CBS) – Police on Friday evening raided a Bridgeport towing operation that was featured in a CBS 2 report this week about one motorist's claims the firm illegally towed her car from a public street.
Chicago police were serving a search warrant at Rendered Services Inc., 3611 S. Iron St., and collecting records and tow trucks for the cameras and data they may have inside.
The company – also the subject of reports by 2 Investigator Pam Zekman – was featured in a report by CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker on Thursday. In it, a motorist provided surveillance video that showed her car being towed off a public street, outside the Pullman Porter Museum.
A museum official said he actually called the tow company, arguing the public curb was reserved for tour buses. A police official at the scene said only the police can legally authorize the towing of a vehicle from a public street.
Authorities descended on Rendered Services Friday after a list of complaints the company towed legally parked cars and then falsified invoices, using different addresses, to make it seem like the tows were valid. The company potentially bilked unwary drivers out of hundreds of dollars each.
Zekman says CBS 2 has received complaints for years from motorists who say their vehicles were illegally towed from addresses that do not appear on formal records.
No arrests were reported Friday. At least five tow trucks were hauled away, CBS 2's Pamela Jones reports.