My girlfriend had her car towed to Quality Service and Tires after the radiator exploded, which made it undriveable. She did not go with the tow truck driver since she needed to stay in the area she was in and would have no way to get back from his shop if she went with the car, however the AAA tow truck dropped it off with owner Hugo Medina, who signed for it. This was on a Friday evening.
She realized that she had left an important book in the car, and so called to see about getting it out the next day. The shop would be closed since it was a Saturday, so Hugo agreed to leave the car on the street for her instead of in his closed lot so that she could use her spare key to get inside the car.
The next day, Saturday, she went to his shop and could not find the car — it was not where he had left it. She called him, but was unable to reach him.
Monday, she went back to his shop and was told by Hugo that the car had been stolen — a car with an exploded radiator that could not run had been stolen!
The investigating officer said that the most likely suspect in this case was Hugo, whom she felt had probably had the car towed somewhere else and sold for parts. Hugo told a mutual friend that he felt that it was an ex-employee of his who had also run off with some money of his. Unfortunately, this is difficult to track and impossible for the overworked LAPD to prove.
A few weeks later, I went in with a letter telling Hugo that I'd be taking him to Small Claims Court, on the idea that since the car was under his care, even if we can't prove he or his employee had actually stolen it, it's his responsibility. He laughed in my face.
BUT, the very next day, the car magically re-appeared... With the engine removed.
There are too many unlikely coincidences in this case for me to not conclude that this man is a thief and should not be trusted by any potential customers.
Matt
Hollywood, California
U.S.A.
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