Video shows tow truck try to latch onto moving car in San Francisco

A viral video showing a tow truck attempting to latch onto a car while the owner was driving it in San Francisco is raising questions. Christie Smith reports.
#SanFrancisco
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[@rufftumble9448]

Based on the video I just witnessed an attempted kidnapping

[@manchurvideo]

Laws need to be passed to charge these companies as a felony. The city should inpound & fine the tow truck company as well as tag the vehicle as evidence for criminal charges.

[@hansolo6827]

@@manchurvideo And those victims should sue the shit out of that towing company

[@kerrystoltz3146]

to bad San Francisco is so liberal they won't prosecute criminals

[@riskis1793]

​@@manchurvideo There are, he's definitely going to be charged

[@mattkramer4132]

That looks like attempted carjacking & kidnapping.

[@abacuddlez]

That's exactly what they going to be charged with

[@junehanzawa5165]

That's an attempted carjacking in broad daylight on a busy street. Can you imagine what they do at night?

[@DAREEncouragement]

And theft. Reckless driving, impeding traffic, practically hit and run.

[@robertd7073]

you may have a seat on the jury

[@CaesarZheng]

Is he try to kidnap the driver with the car?

[@neckarsulme]

he's trying to tow the car and kidnap the occupants

[@je862]

yes

[@LisaAnn777]

Two for one deal

[@snaredude56]

Attempted Kidnapping, Attempted Carjacking, Attempted Grand Theft Auto. This driver should be identified, arrested and detained. The business should be fined and have their business license revoked.

[@nae80West]

Take them out of business immediately!!! Stop harassing people!!

[@zerious1016]

And sue them. It’s something to teach them not to do wrong things again.

[@Winston-lf7sb]

jail for attemtped kidnappings vehicular assault, attempted grand theft.

[@noneofyourbusiness9369]

​@@zerious1016 Sounds like some dirty Public Servants letting a company they use run amuck. Need to be put them out of business immediately and find out who's allowing this. This has been going on for some time.

[@WhiteWolfos]

Not just the company, the driver could be charged with felony

[@REAL-UNKNOWN-SHINOBI]

Funnily enough this particular tow company has already had their license to operate revoked and they're not allowed to operate as a company anymore, except they continue doing just that.

[@hhch2]

The towtruck driver needs to be held CRIMINALLY liable for this.

[@grahamimal8336]

I’m fascinated with this story and need to hear how this ends. What was he planning on doing with them in the car? Where was he going to take them? WHO IS THIS CRAZY PERSON?

[@WhuDhat]

probably going to take them to the tow yard

[@allanpeter7700]

Yeah but surely he would know they were smart and would call the police

[@xpusostomos]

He probably thinks they'll get out, then he'll say too late, you're hooked, and eventually he wins and takes the car

[@curiouspenguin6887]

Looks like attempted towing shakedown. "It'll cost you $75 to unhook...unless you want it taken to the impound lot...$$$$"

[@wildcoyote34]

the problem is that it's illegal for a tow truck to even attempt to hook up a car that is occupied

[@JustErik92]

​@@wildcoyote34not in Commiefornia

[@Strideo1]

​@@JustErik92Source?

[@bukka6697]

@@Strideo1 Magats don't need sources. Alternative facts, remember?

[@thecapricorn11]

this use to happen on south beach in miami years ago... and the miami beach pd was in on the scheme.

[@mintheman7]

A lot of towing companies are super shady and scummy. If you live in San Jose, steer clear of Courtesy Towing.

[@S.V.TeFiti]

I wanna see him in cuffs....

[@Joseph-eh4rs]

In Alcatraz island all by himself. 😂

[@lostalien]

Thanks Jeff for videoing this.

[@NickAndTech]

Why hasn't the tow truck driver been identified and arrested already?

[@darkphasex]

It’s San Francisco, no consequences for illegal behavior

[@AEMoreira81]

@@darkphasex -- That is why the Second Amendmet exists. If they did that to a driver who was CCW carrying, it likely meets a sudden end.

[@wvanyar1801]

@@PunchBuggyDreams, the tow truck driver had a weapon, a truck that weighs over a ton. I’m sure after lifting the car if someone approached the truck, the driver would have flashed a weapon. The tow truck driver was attempting to disable a vehicle illegally.

[@jaysparc]

In SF only innocent people are arrested.

[@pablosskates7067]

LMAO they say there’s many companies named “speciality towing” so they’re not sure which one it is. There’s literally VIDEO footage. No way in hell there’s more than one with the same logo. This is stupid on a whole other level.

[@nrgonline]

Thank you for filming in landscape

[@Praneesh]

This constitutes for attempted kidnapping, go sue, you have a lawsuit

[@franksnowboarder]

I was wondering why this wasn't being investigated more aggressively but then I realized it was San Francisco. The victims will be arrested shortly

[@rygregory]

It’s as if you watched the entire video and decided not to pay attention to any of it.

[@BAAWAKnight]

@@rygregory It's as if you don't know anything about San Francisco and how criminals are coddled there.

[@BAAWAKnight]

@Undercoverbat95 Cthulhu loves you.

[@Jump-n-smash]

Lucifer loves you too

[@clementecruz285]

They are the thieves from that Area…

[@neckarsulme]

attempted kidnapping

[@Ty-er5ok]

They should be able to get a screen cap of the license from the video. This guy needs to be arrested,

[@JimsEquipmentShed]

Phone number is right on the hood, give them a call.

[@je862]

maybe the truck was stolen

[@Callidus7SSM]

@@je862I’ve got a bridge to sell you

[@theinfinitymachine9610]

The owners will is closed shop and open another LLC. You need to blacklist and jail the actual driver and owner.

[@darkphasex]

It’s San Francisco, they ain’t going to do anything. That’s why this situation occurred in the first place

[@ft1011-vb7sp]

The police need to criminally charge tow operators who illegally tow cars. If I tried to take a car that was parked legally or that was being driven, I’d be thrown in jail !

[@wolfgangBuonarotti]

not in san francisco. the pigs got their feelings hurt when people wanted them to murder fewer civilians so now they do nothing and still get paid. basically SFPD is a gang of "wellfare queens".

[@andreaswehrmann365]

I've heard of very aggressive behaviour in the towing and clamping business before... but I've never seen anything like this.

[@silvermica]

I did see this video on social media - I didn't know if it was even real or where this had occurred. I'm glad NBC reported on this. I think we can all relate to, 'what if it was me?'

[@MeEncantaKiley]

Give the place a call 😂

[@ganbramor]

We all saw it on social media. KZbin IS social media.

[@Tierone1337]

That’s the only way these tow truckers make money. Illegally towing a car

[@got_glintsp963]

How many fake tow companies are going to pop up now? Taking vehicles to chop shops or somewhere equally as illegal.

[@xmo552]

All the numbers in the back ID that truck company.

[@niaz_ahmed]

No one is talking about the Waymo car, which just exited the situation gracefully

[@Google_Does_Evil_Now]

It's been revealed that they are driven by people in India. Google it. It's kind of a scandal because Google are supposedly selling the tech but aren't being upfront about using Indian staff with remote control to drive the cars. Apparently the cars need at least 1 human correction every 1.5 miles. There's a huge Indian call center where staff control the cars in USA.

[@Zenith_Star69]

100% was human intervention.

[@msk7374]

The victim was just charged for not letting the suspect to kidnap him.

[@leunam3434]

One reason to never visit San Francisco. Kidnapping by towing!

[@lucystrider728]

So glad this hero had the presence of mind to video this scary attempted kidnapping, which it was whether or not he was after the car or the people since they were in it. Very dangerous.

[@hammerridecycling7630]

now they just lost their business😂😂😂

[@bienvenidoalonzo7285]

And lay off them.

[@Kandalf8989]

They aren't a business, they are criminals working with painted tow truck, to kidnap and then pressurize for money in the end, > to release their vehicle from hook.

[@AEMoreira81]

They might come back under a different name.

[@saynomore2619]

They’ve broken into all the parked car & so they take running cars w/ drivers in it 🤣 This can’t be real 😂🤣 Bay Area thieves at a new low. 😂

[@patrickwhite4449]

No wonder this happens in San Fran. You guys don’t arrest people for small crimes. I just watched videos about all the companies leaving because of crime. What a nice place to live

[@wanderlustandsparkle4395]

People who recognize the driver should name the driver online because he clearly attempted to kidnap people, including a woman.

[@davidturk6170]

SF PD won’t do anything unless it’s a felony.

[@leifkemp]

THIS, is a felony!

[@battlesqueak5838]

Still won’t do anything even if it’s a felony

[@tomhill4003]

the SFPD are wankers who report to their union, not the people or leaders of SF

[@hyakushiki23]

They wont do anything unless their republican

[@wubbied4575]

@@hyakushiki23they’re* use “they’re” any time you would say “they are”.

[@762-m9b]

Assuming if it is SPECIALTY TOWING?... Thats all it says on the side of the truck with a phone number! Come on man! Do your F N job!🤨🤨🤨

[@LynnShiyayo]

lol the waymo is like ' my 2024 goal is less drama ...im just gonna squeeze myself outta here"

[@pennytrui1149]

Lmfao it gracefully existed like "I ain't got time for these humans I'm out"

[@SolidSonicTH]

I really do not understand what the objective of doing this would be.

[@harry8201]

How the hell is this behavior happening in a first world country and a western country. This is disgusting... You come to America be grateful. You don't come here to hurt your fellow citizens

[@WhiteWolfos]

Well if you're born in America then you don't really come to it. But anywhere in the world there are bad people and people who make stupid choices

[@basillah7650]

Its not first world its california people voted to give criminals more rights then victims.

[@animateddepression]

In a normal state, tow driver would be 6 feet under

[@Callidus7SSM]

California. I don’t think California counts as being in a first world, or a western country at this point. It’s a land all its own, and it’s a scary, scary place

[@Toyotacorollaaltis-cn9fd]

I live in a 3rd world country this shit don't happen mainly because we all know at least one guy who can get us your head if you try this shit

[@majicogarcia8417]

He should try this in Texas

[@ArthurM_1998]

Tow-driver: Attempts to unlawfully hook a moving car with a Texan inside Texan: *pop-pop-pop-pop*

[@neilkurzman4907]

Really all the tow trucks in Texas never take anybody’s car on Slim reasons. It must be an amazing state.

[@The_guy_on_the_internet]

Was just thinking that. Who could blame the victim for lighting up the tow truck driver. If I knew my car was paid off the only reason for the situation is that guy is up to something nefarious

[@bimmerpooch]

In CA it's attempted kidnapping. In TX it would be attempted suicide.

[@diegoflores9237]

You pay now

[@cHinitocHunk]

Let's be honest here, SF is on a decline. The thefts have gotten way out of hand and the city hasn't done anything to combat it. It's looking more like a future Gary, Indiana.

[@てくたく]

San Francisco, cesspool of crapness.

[@phil562]

In SF nothing is safe. Avoid at all costs. I'm surprised that someone didn't walk up and smash the window to grab their valuables while this was happening.

[@michaelsilkwood6129]

That's attempted kidnapping, plain and simple.

[@gagahusband]

Could you believe that the guy driving that truck looks exactly like the kind of guy I could expect to be doing this kind of thing with that truck?

[@deafmute2501]

Lock them up, no bail, give them 10 years. DA needs to stop being weenies.

[@enesfazlic6017]

You reached out. Where the fuck is the police department.

[@shrimboi8909]

SFPD is so pathetic. Video shows licence plate and driver and they still haven't done anything. I guess if tow truck tried to tow a police car than they might do some follow up.

[@xmo552]

It's called road rage... Look at the driver of the car.

[@Munsad1919]

I did not know that in California more than $1000 worth item can be stolen without any consequences

[@vennie951]

This is clearly attempted car, jacking, AND kidnapping. The driver and the owner of the company should both be charged and imprisoned. Not that complicated.

[@edwardsmith9403]

David Chau why you didn’t close this company? Are you getting bribed

[@BCNeil]

kickbacks,

[@noelhernandez219]

You see how stupid the district attorney of San Francisco is they need to contact the state general law enforcement on that company. They got the phone number they got the company‘s name. They need to get the hold of the state law enforcement.

[@eponymousIme]

Listen carefully to what the D.A. said: IF this is the same company....because there are several towing companies with the same or similar names. In other words, the company name on the truck might be fake.

[@ryanj6862]

@@eponymousIme bs..that's them. look at the behavior

[@FlowKio]

Car theft ring disguised as a tow truck business

[@Foodmeow]

Literally what the govt is doing to us

[@noelhernandez219]

With all the technology right now, you really think it’s that hard. They need to contact the state of California general law enforcement. San Francisco county are bunch of moron DAs. I lived there most of my life.

[@DarkJak2050]

As if all the homeless, drug addicts, gangs & thieves weren't enough. Another reason for not working in San Francisco.

[@joechen353]

We need Governor of New York State, Kathy Hochul. It's getting outta control here SFO especially san jose having said London Breed need to GO❗

[@The_guy_on_the_internet]

Get your CCW folks, its getting crazy out there

[@ComaAlpha]

You're not allowed to tow a vehicle with a living person or animal in it.

[@jannyzhingaz9562]

one of London Breed's Fentanyland disgruntled employees looks like

[@newmexicoballer3867]

Not only they steal cars. They also break into cars and steal stuff inside. Tow truck drivers are very shady people.

[@dericksmith2137]

Lol. My buddy received 4 red light traffic citations…. It was over a weekend, but his vehicle was impounded during the time of the citations! His 30 day impound was over, and he’d paid to get his vehicle back. Then a week later the citations showed up in the mail over a 3 day period. He tried speaking to the tow yard- no result. Tried contacting the cops - no result. So in traffic court he showed the judge the impound receipt that showed that the car had been in the impound yard for 2 weeks when the citations occurred. Judge dismissed the citations. But buddy never could get any explanation of how his car could be driven while it was in an impound yard. (This was back when the Grand Nationals were popular cars.) *buddy also wasn’t the type to have the slightest clue what his odometer reading was, so no way to know just how much the car had been driven. *in Manitoba Canada, if you get caught driving suspended your vehicle is automatically impounded 30 days. With costs of $30/day impound fee + $180 tow fee. So a $1000 penalty not counting the citation for driving suspended.

[@newmexicoballer3867]

@@dericksmith2137 Damn. Yup, just a lot of shady people in the towing industry. I had my car towed and a brand new bible that was given to me as a gift I just got the day before I had left in my car was stolen by the person that towed my car. Damn it was a really nice looking bible too black with golden trim. I guess the driver who stole it want to become a good Christian 😅

[@spider5054]

This company sucks ass, and what is bad about this type of money hungry business. Terrible

[@Dwn2Race]

Democrat Utopia.

[@Robbedem]

Looks like roadrage to me. I don't think the truck actually was going to take the car. He wanted to exert dominance.

[@masonite1973]

Attempted kidnapping and grand theft auto

[@izzyci]

criminal harassment, jail time

[@Dannyboy1550]

Should definitely be illegal to try to tow someone who is driving down the street. It's a danger to the public.

[@TimberlakeTigerGirl]

It is illegal. Which wouldn't surprise me if this is a disguised form of carjacking

[@ICEMAN77gaming]

thats been happening alot its all over the internet

[@dennis.teevee]

kudos to the guy taking the video 👍

[@dstewart4520]

There's gotta be more to this story. There's just gotta be.

[@marksouza1170]

there is absolutely 0 context needed for actively towing a car with people in it.

[@trekgod3]

Try that in Florida where we're all packing

[@louiec9534]

this is new like squatters for homes, now it's for cars 😂😂😂😂

[@lisaelaine7362]

Was driving downtown SF last Fri. Or Sat. with fam. Noticed more tow trucks than I have ever seen in one place and joked that there must be a tow truck convention. Or that they were clearing the streets. Some had their phalange down. Really odd. But I didn’t see them do this. Can’t remember the streets, but near Market and Union Square. Concentrated in just a couple of blocks, then no more trucks.

[@Brian-tt2qb]

It's California they're not going to do anything

[@sosmundial]

It is a little rude but almost as in Buenos Aires. (ACBA, acronym of Autonomous City of Buenos Aires) Years and years the company paying cents for the permission, concession to the governmente of ACBA but charging thousands to the "lawbrakers".

[@tomhill4003]

Jeez... and the city wonders why nobody goes downtown anymore. This is certainly a nice way to encourage business development in this part of town. The city of SF and the tow companies are predators IMHO.

[@JesusTorres-zu8wz]

Yup. That tow truck driver would have gotten his ass kicked..

[@Dragonk116]

Isn't that literally attempted kidnapping

[@ohplezz]

He wasn’t trying to tow it, he was trying to steal it.

[@mrdpdjr]

Jail.

[@richardyiphk]

Should I be surprised, after almost a day, no arrest has been made even with the clear material evidence~

[@eddiesu2]

In the US is all about money now .

[@richardc6269]

For this reason you must carry your firearm.

[@gc2713]

Anyone make out that phone number?

[@truesonic669]

Towing in america is outta control.

[@estherwilliams9036]

im sorry, i normally dont talk like this, but i would have feared for my life, i would be forced to shoot through my windshield. ...this happened on the freeway, same scenario but the car fell on its roof, in the freeway with on comming cars.

[@robertd7073]

On February 2, 2024, the City Attorney filed the suspension order, which encompasses the following individuals and companies: Auto Towing, LLC Abigail Fuentes Juan Fuentes, CEO of Auto Towing Jose Badillo Jose’s Towing, LLC Specialty Towing and Recovery, Inc.

[@dash8465]

Jail, immediately, no bond.

[@desmond-hawkins]

Aww that's cute. Is it your first day in San Francisco?

[@Callidus7SSM]

Will never happen in California. Well, maybe the victims. They’ll be arrested for not letting the guy kidnap them for sure.

[@af3790]

Can not trust that tow truck company yellow truck anymore!! Not legal !!! Tow truck company should never attempt to tow car with driver inside of car!

[@XEONvE]

US, a 4th world country

[@nullfield6514]

Specialty towing Hayward California is the location responsible

[@rahamatbacchus4145]

Are you allowed to tow a vehicle with occupants?

[@spectrelead]

Not if the vehicle is mobile, and even more sus if they're actively trying to dodge the hook

[@tahwnikcufos]

Why hasn't an arrest been made? That's an attempted car jacking & maybe kidnaping too.

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Could be attempted recovery of vehicle by debt collection for missed loan payments. Note that the tow truck takes off after the small car after it escapes past. Regardless of reason, this is dangerous and reckless behaviour by the tow driver.

[@Nonenone23]

San Francisco is a no go zone

[@ZakiSalem-zh5gr]

Arent tow trucks required to take pics/vids of vehicles in illegal parking before towing?

[@Ghostface-j1l]

Nope

[@bimbi654]

It's california, nothing will be done.

[@wilhelmZ2000]

This is either an aggressive repo or a kidnapping.

[@thethpian]

This is not just an attempted bad tow it's attempted kidnapping.

[@kingm3llo]

This is what happens when you get a car and can't make the payments.

[@J2982able]

No. While it may have been a note issue, there are regulations on how to properly do so. On an active road, with people in the car is not it.

[@Toyotacorollaaltis-cn9fd]

No its not also try explaining that to the cops buddy also I hear you gonna be rooming with Tyrone enjoy your stay