Cars stolen while at repair shop, who is responsible? KPRC 2 Investigates

Houston police say getting the numbers of how many vehicles are stolen from repair shops or service centers at car dealerships will take some time because the reports aren’t easily searchable by the type of business the vehicle was stolen from. Anecdotally the general manager of one local dealership told KPRC 2 Investigates Houston area car dealerships are seeing more of these thefts of customers’ cars.

[@tyriciankelly9185]

I’M SUING THE DEALERSHIP, I WILL NOT BE FILING A CLAIM.

[@philliphall5198]

They are having a note put on work order now Better read it first 😊

[@ringaleavo]

30 years ago I left my cargo van loaded with a touring bands musical instruments at a Dodge Dealership. Was being repaired due to a recall. The service manager was aware of the contents and assured me that the van would be stored inside the service department. Well, they lied, the vehicle was stolen from their property, found abandoned in local lot and of course all the contents including the wheels and tires were gone. Their insurance company covered all of it, there was no deductible either.

[@tyriciankelly9185]

@@ringaleavo THAT WAS 30 YEARS AGO THOUGH.

[@pbassassinz8097]

Your suing the dealer good luck they can afford better attorneys than you can you will end up wasting your money and then having to file with your insurance. Get a lockjack.

[@ringaleavo]

@@tyriciankelly9185 When an item is in your care and you display negligence, you're responsible my friend

[@sehoujay]

"That's what insurance is for" Yes buddy, your insurance, not mine!

[@carolr7823]

It's the responsibility of the repair shop since they have custody of your car.

[@AAP0000]

Especially if they left the keys unattended

[@thomashoang1820]

The dealership doesn't care. Insurance gives you the runaround and jacks your premium. State Representative doesn't give a horse jack. Do what hurts them the most: don't buy a vehicle from that dealership; we need a forum where vehicles are getting stolen from to stay away. Someone has to take accountability.

[@diegosilang4823]

Thanks for telling me which dealers to avoid because they failed to protect their customers cars and not held accountable for it.

[@youtubehatestruthtellers8065]

Yea because... police exists jails exist and crime still happens. Who's fault will it be if they stole it from your front yard. I guarantee you'd be blaming the thieves then

[@dvu8826]

@@youtubehatestruthtellers8065found the loser used car salesman

[@carolr7823]

@@youtubehatestruthtellers8065 I believe that it was an inside job.

[@diegosilang4823]

@youtubehatestruthtellers8065 police will take care of the theives. dealer have to take care of their PR/customer service, including preventing their cars from getting stolen.

[@dannynguyen2050]

The repair shop obviously, the keys were handed to the dealership and it is their responsibility to keep it secure while in their possession.

[@youtubehatestruthtellers8065]

Who's responsible when a thief steals a vehicle from your house?

[@dvu8826]

@@youtubehatestruthtellers8065the thief? Lol how did you graduate high school bozo

[@taurussho86]

mf, are you slow? what about this situation is their house? thr property was given under thr care of the repair shop... theyre responsible period!!! youre an ldiot ​@@youtubehatestruthtellers8065

[@Baebon6259]

@@youtubehatestruthtellers8065 the owner's insurance. Just like it would be for dealer's insurance if the car was taken under dealer's care.

[@silentmajority8365]

@@youtubehatestruthtellers8065 a black or Hispanic guy

[@LamarA-bq1zz]

So the dealer is saying that's what insurance is for is a bunch of bull!

[@MrJimmy3459]

Auto shops Also have insurance

[@Baebon6259]

I mean...Dealer is half right. It will be dealer's insurance not owner's insurance.

[@ChewyChicken589]

It's what their insurance is for

[@silentmajority8365]

Was not happening whe America was W

[@silentmajority8365]

@@ChewyChicken589 Naive Eventually you ca no longer be insured After the 2015 Baltimore riots 400 stores closed because they could not be insured in that city Diversity has a high price tag

[@JeminiThaBard]

Inside job. Somebody at the dealership had to let that crook know when the keys would be available. I can't believe these dealership are trying to say to got thru insurance?! Their negligence. They know what's up.

[@vce.john1734]

Yup someone working at dealership is insider job for the dude to steal the vehicle ain’t no way the guy knew what time to go there and key are ready and isn’t in lock box.

[@worldtraveler3044]

This is going viral nationally so clearly don’t use WEST POINT LINCOLN as the owner says on camera he’s not taking responsibility for their negligence!!

[@user-ms6rm1fc9x]

How does a random thief know that the vehicle is a the dearlership repair shop? Thats an inside job.

[@rogermartinez78]

That happened to me 24 years ago and LAPD concluded that it was an inside job.

[@LU_JUST]

My $70k brand new car was at at a body shop for repair due to rear end accident. My car was parked on the street because that’s what they do when they’re waiting for parts. Body shop FORGOT TO LOCK MY CAR! I had to LOCK IT MYSELF through the Lexus app. Terrible.

[@tech4life884]

The dealerships placing their customers keys in a place where anyone can get them makes the dealership at fault!

[@tech4life884]

Repair shops are liable because they are responsible for every vehicle they accept to repair. It's that simple!.

[@pennyharris446]

Dealership may have an illegal side business. They need to be both investigated and audited.

[@charliem6335]

CHRIS POULOS, YOU are responsible!!! NOT the insurance. Why should my insurance go up because of your negligence??? Customers: Watch they (dealerships) will now try to get you to sign a waiver. Don't sign it!!

[@ItsForTheDogs]

Yes, the repair shop. They have possession of the car, it's their responsibility.

[@Wasupup]

But but but but that’s what insurance is for !!! No man, you’re negligent and should face up to

[@InsanePandaWanderer]

The repair shop for not protecting their customers

[@patrickm8877]

That question is already answered, the repair shop.

[@ashresearcher]

Put this on their REVIEWS and save other customers!

[@dougfisher1813]

Nobody mentions the thief that stole it. He's responsible. Thieves are held in high regard these days. Especially car thieves. They're celebrated as heroes if there's a child in the car they steal.

[@imabosssorta1923]

In this specific case, the thief's walked right into the dealership and grabbed that woman's car keys off their counter. The dealership is equally as guilty in this instance.

[@tl1533]

Shame on the dealership!

[@ge2623]

Same as if the shop or dealership burned to the ground. Their insurance would have to cover it.

[@BadMonkeyMike]

The dealership is responsible. They should not have left the keys on a desk.

[@keefers84]

The thieves are responsible.

[@imabosssorta1923]

You're right. The thieves working at the dealership, leaving the customer's keys out for their thief buddies to come collect.

[@indigenous31617]

This would cause me to wonder if they are inside jobs.

[@lawiwis882]

Idk what’s worse, this or the COH allowing tow companies to charge robbery victims for the towing fees😤

[@davidndianna]

Car dealerships make you sign paperwork… you make them sign your paperwork too…. In case anything happen they are responsible

[@user-ni6ve4su7g]

this is senseless the dealership was responsible, if you can’t fix it while i wait i’m going to have to come back when you get the part. thanks for the story

[@cousinjohncarstuff4568]

Yet, you get a loaner from the dealer and it gets stolen. Tell the dealer to go through their insurance and tell me how that works out for you!

[@linvol20]

If the dealer doesn’t care because of insurance then there should be insurance fraud or robbery investigations to the dealership to minimize that from occurring…

[@jebsails2837]

When you give control of your possessions / property to a 3rd party for repair along with in this case the keys a bailment is created. In this case a mutual benefit bailment you get your car fixed, the shop is paid for their expertise time parts. While under the control of the repair shop they are responsible for the vehicle and contents. Despite signage and statements exempting them. Years ago I took the local Ford Garage to small claims court as a jack was stolen from inside my truck. The garage argued about the non-responsibility sign, I argued bailment. I won cost of the jack plus court fees. Narragansett Bay

[@Bigrignohio]

"Duty of care" (sure there is another legal term that can be used).

[@ge2623]

"Reasonable expectation"

[@ronp-eb9bh]

.....uuuugh the Repair Shop is responsible. Not too hard to figure that out. The owner left the vehicle in the repair shop/ dealership custody for repairs.

[@mikeymike7738]

Wow, that’s F up

[@user-jf6pz5jx8g]

If you report the theft to your insurance company then your payments go up, for something you did not do. There was a story a while back were a person stole a car from a walmart auto repair facility

[@ICARUS_I]

So the keys to that lady’s Lincoln were at the service desk? I’m assuming the keys were not locked up or put into a safe of some sorts? Unbelievable.

[@MsJones-gg3jw]

It was on the dealership. Wth. Most definitely liable. So crazy.

[@MikeMike-du9nq]

Shop or dealership is 100% at fault and responsible for reimbursement or replacement of vehicle.

[@philn1601]

the take away is don't take your car to dealerships, they will rip you off to your bone.

[@zacharylee6405]

I think its a crime that Repair shops can take weeks to months to repair in the US. In Malaysia we have more cars than PEOPLE and you can get repairs done in hours or days. NOT WEEKS. There are even lounges for your to sit and wait for your car to be ready if its just a service.

[@Tommy-rf9sw]

They should have something called garage liability insurance or something like that. I know because it happened to my sibling’s car where a thief stole the tires off the vehicle while it was in the shop’s possession. The shop never admitted fault and I had to constantly bring up their insurance to deal with it.

[@gonzalogutierrez4748]

The usual suspects smh

[@taurussho86]

😂 yea like yall hop skipping and jumping in America illegally

[@mintyaashka5837]

Does this comment make you feel like they will like you more? Lol 😂

[@gonzalogutierrez4748]

@taurussho86 calm down little obama lol

[@gonzalogutierrez4748]

@@mintyaashka5837 I'm just speaking facts , ,,so eat a Brisker's sandwich 🥪 n relax lol

[@gonzalogutierrez4748]

@@taurussho86 relax son..go n eat a BBQ sandwich n take a Xanax pill n chill,that's wat yall good for

[@debbiejohnson7758]

They need to have what's called a Key Room. An attendant in the key room signs in and out anyone who requests and returns a key to any vehicle. That room is then kept locked outside of business hours.

[@grimreaper4801]

A dealership in florida. An Employee use the dealership license plate on his personal car to avoid registration or insurance. He cause an car accident and gave the dealership insurance. When dealership discover the crime/fraud he did. The dealership didn't reported it stolen. Just say it was stolen did nothing. In 2023 Feb and when I file a complaint against the dealership by the FLHSMV in 2023 October. They then decide to report the stolen license plate.

[@ringaleavo]

If the vehicle is the dealerships care and custody and they have the keys, plain and simple, they're responsible.

[@eddiel2531]

Howd they steal it if its waiting for parts? 🤔

[@radolfkalis4041]

The part could be something as simple as a ture, or oil filter. Car can still run and need repairs/maintenance.

[@WaveGod813]

What kind of question is this lol

[@magaareinbredhillbillies]

unless the law changes in texas , the dealership is at fault. i was going to open a repair shop till i found out the law.

[@ScarabChris]

Filing a claim with your own insurance is a last resort, not your first. When you file a claim even if it isn't your fault you can be sure your insurance will go up because insurance companies do not take losses, they "recover" the loss one way or the other. They will try to go after the dealer first but the dealers have high priced lawyers and I'm sure when you leave your car for service you signed a "service agreement" and somewhere in the very fine print it will say the dealer is not responsible for theft. So yeah if your car is stolen from a dealer, if you paid $150 a month before, you will pay $200 when you renew.

[@kingpaw2426]

Add a security check point... Simple fix. Not the consumer fault

[@danpp6175]

Who is responsible obviously we know who's responsible the zombie who took the damn car the thief who stole the car who didn't belong to now the next question is why they're too lazy to go out and get a real job like others to go buy cars that's a shame I bet a 15-year sentence would make this individual say damn especially if it already has a long lengthy criminal career

[@Crooked_smil3]

Yea that’s some bs. They should tighten up security because if this were a test drive or courtesy vehicle, they want your license and insurance info incase you steal or damage their stuff. In the event that something happens to their car while you have it, they aren’t using their own insurance. They’re using yours

[@youtubehatestruthtellers8065]

The thieves duh.

[@10forthebigguy753]

It’s hard work keeping track of thousands of keys and not losing them. People are lazy and just leave them in the ignition overnight.

[@imabosssorta1923]

You don't think a dealership can afford a couple car key lock boxes. Pretty sure that wouldn't even be a drop in the profit bucket to have.

[@philjon]

Yup that’s what YOUR insurance is for vs someone else having history and their insurance rates spike.

[@supportmytroups7]

Just walked into the service center and took the keys , nice and easy

[@DaddyPhatSnack]

WRONG !!! IF I leave my vehicle with the dealership and ANYTHING HAPPENS to my vehicle minus bad weather . THE DEALERSHIP IS AT FAULT !!!

[@donbush9091]

Owners are That’s why we have insurance

[@paulbarrera573]

That means the dealer can set you up .

[@mickeybarton9077]

Dealership is probably in on this

[@beyondthedetails]

How stupid is this? wtf do you mean who’s responsible? Obviously the place that had your vehicle is liable… My god how stupid are people for this to even be a question?

[@jazziez6467]

watch out for mohamad, all Detroit folks already know that

[@charliem6335]

Racist bs.

[@jweezywooden4378]

Man I love Chris he’s a good man he employs a lot of good people at both dealership But damn man that’s so fked up they at least gotta give her a car like come on man that’s foul and the blood is on his hands the customer honestly didn’t do anything wrong but service the car

[@nativestacker4185]

The Dealership or Repair shop are responsible but they also don't want to have bigger insurance premiums that is why they try to get you to file with your insurance rather than theirs . Here is another tid bit for ya , in some states if the dealer's insurance will only pay for a % of the total value of the car , you may take the dealer to court directly for the remainder of the value .

[@ElwynnForest]

What app does she have

[@mattthomas4533]

That’s what the DEALERS insurance is for……

[@5hunnidCG]

That’s why I brought ah BMW cause of the way they treat your car for service and the only time it’s sit outside is when it’s ready for pick up which at that point they are not responsible because they contact you to come pick it up and drop off the rental..

[@drolak2158]

Club is useless, they just cut your steering wheel and it comes right off

[@driver4011]

another reason why they're called stealerships.

[@blackenigma1054]

You know you pay that premium faithfully and then when you need them they act like their doing you a favor….insurance in the state of texas is a joke and who don’t we have to thank for that😳🤫🤷‍♀️

[@mike02ss]

It should be the dealers problem but unfortunately they will let the owner make the claim. It happens even at boat dealers ask me how i know.

[@radolfkalis4041]

Yes, that is what insurance is for, the DEALERS insurance. Leave the keys where someone can LITERALLY walk in and take them? Yeah, that is negligence, or criminal. Typical insurance response: not our fault, their fault. Dont like it, sue us. They are banking on being able to financially outlast most people with their 24/7 lawyer teams.

[@silentmajority8365]

In Houston its blacks or Hispanics

[@ironbowtie]

What is Amy even wearing?

[@stangman6291]

the rich owner dealers are responsible for this put the keys in safe place hire security.

[@r49y92]

Of course he drives a nissan...

[@mikehlee69]

Those Asians at it again

[@mrbond9882]

How many times is she going to say vehicle?

[@michaeljohnson4947]

Does anyone remember America, before the war on drugs? We had the world's streets. We didn't have to lock our doors at night, and we left our keys in the ignition. We can't wage a war on drugs, and have safe streets. Judges let criminals loose, so cop's can criminalize the next generation of school children. America stopped Alcohol Prohibition, because we couldn't find one honest cop. After Prohibition, the one cop, who was supposed to be Un-corruptible...Elliot Ness....was fired by Chicago police for being drunk on the job.

[@artiesopinion9135]

Take a shot every time someone says vehicle. 😂

[@DoeyPP]

Repair shop is

[@user-xq2lk6rf1u]

150 learn to maff

[@pestcontrolexclusiontechni7164]

lol 200 miles she said - you know she failed a math class 😊

[@1willubhave]

"Cars stolen at repair shop, who is responsible?" Duh, the dealership...file a claim?!!! Let me call my lawyer first...Thomas J. Henry...

[@959151]

Inside jobs!

[@teamextras4life270]

Inside Job 🤔 Definitely

[@agentmikewong]

If this is not the dealerships fault for negligence, then why not put all the dealership car keys and cash where unauthorized people can access? They’re careless with customers cars, but not their own inventory and cash registers?

[@chiefexecutive]

Yeah it is. THE DEALERS INSURANCE !

[@phdsescobar4]

Hmmm Muhammad 🧐

[@VintageVaughnVehiclces]

An underpaid employee who decides to quit their job steal a vehicle and go sell it for what they get paid in a full year of working at that dealership. But they need the electronic key, and the only way to get that key is to clobber the owner while they're trying to get in the car or kill the owner when they're trying to get in the car has happened often in Newark New Jersey. Then they drive the car to a shipping container and put a whole bunch of junk and hide it as best they can and ship it off to nigeria. So if you want to find stolen American cars go to a Nigerian car lot and 90% of their inventory are stolen vehicles from America washed with the ocean waters of going over the water from American continent to the African continent. If they couldn't get away with it they'd stop doing it but since they can they continue to do so. If you don't want your vehicle stolen get something that's 50 years old it has no value in Nigeria so they don't steal it.

[@donatebeerhere]

You can be pissed, but if you want the issue to be resolved in a timely manner, file with your insurance. They will definitely subrogate against the dealer, but will do so on their time and their time. You'll get your deductible back. Next time, go to a different dealer.

[@donquique1]

You have to be careful on sublimation. A guy hit my car in the back and refused to answer. I went through sublimation with geico. They told me if the other party did not respond they would sent him to collections. If they fail to recover then that is the end of the claim. I would have to sue for the deductible. Geico is pointless.

[@matthewcaughey8898]

@@donquique1 Geico was the worst as I recall. Years ago I was involved in a 3 car pileup where I was the middle car. I got hit and shoved forward into the car in front of me. I was driving a 4 door Suzuki sidekick and I got hit hard enough that despite the huge skid plate the gas tank was pushed in 5 inches and the whole drivetrain was shifted forward. (She was in a full sized Mercury grand Marquis and hit me going around 25 mph). Anyway my SUV was in the shop for over a week and my body guy called and said nobody had contacted him yet. ( this despite the fact that Geico said go ahead and take it to your shop of choice). When I got ahold of Geico the woman in the other end copped an attitude with me and said I was going to have to contact my own insurance company to fix it. ( at this point all I saw was red cause to get to work I was driving my 1985 Porsche 911 turbo as a daily cause it was all I had and it was eating me alive in gas and maintenance costs ) I just remember that a coworker said I just went off on them with a fury he had never imagined I had. I’m quite sure the 7 words you can’t say were spouted a few times. I’m also sure the empty threat of violence probably didn’t hurt. ( keeping in mind my 911 turbo was tuned and I was getting maybe 13 mpg on the highway). Anyways the next day they personally delivered a check so he could fix my SUV. The SUV as it turned out was terminally borked owing to the drivetrain damage and I blew 2 clutches on it in under a year before I traded it in. Cause of the damage the clutch wasn’t fully disengaging and it grenaded on me coming home. They really should have totaled the sidekick

[@jamesadair8131]

What's on that woman's head 104

[@Romero-kc7qj]

B l m ,🤮

[@mintyaashka5837]

W l m 🤮🤮

[@NostalgiaHDOS]

@@mintyaashka5837more than B

[@Sl20]

Like when you are promoting the new bell dress style !!!!🫢🔴🤫nice !🤫 0:40

[@Sl20]

The responsibility is the one that you give the key to !!!!like the valet parking!!🫢🔴🤫 1:09 very simple !!,🤫