Toms River Towing Company Focus of Investigation In Wake Of Hurricane Sandy
Public asked for help in matter
The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office is fielding complaints from residents in regards to the activities of a towing service known as APK Towing of Toms River, accoring to Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford.
“While it is not our usual policy to comment on pending and ongoing investigations, we are asking that anyone with information regarding this business, or any one who has received a bill from this business related to services rendered in Seaside Heights, to please contact the investigators assigned to this matter: Detective James Conroy or Detective Mark Malinowski at (732) 929-2027," said Ford in a press release.
“The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether or not there has been any criminal wrong doing associated with the business practices of this entity," Ford said. "We are collecting facts and information and will not comment publicly on this until our investigation is completed."
“Many people have been heroes during this recent disaster. Unfortunately, experience teaches us that fraudulent, overreaching, and unethical business practices are an almost certain aftermath of the disaster. There are many people who see this as an opportunity to prey upon people made vulnerable by a natural disaster.
“People with questions about a vendor or contractor can protect themselves by contacting the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs, at 732-929-2105. They can also check with the State Division of Consumer Affairs to confirm that a contractor is registered. Unregistered and unlicensed contractors are most frequently the subject of consumer fraud complaints.
“In the meantime, my office has established a Hurricane Sandy Task Force, which is investigating consumer complaints of criminal fraud," said Ford.
The Hurricane Sandy Task Force will assist local departments in the investigation and prosecution of crimes that are related to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Sr. Assistant Prosecutor Martin Anton is Task Force Coordinator and contact person for the Task Force. He can be reached at (732) 929-2027.
"People who take advantage of the public during this time of disaster will be vigorously prosecuted if their conduct is criminal in nature,' said Ford. "Criminal fraud upon particularly vulnerable victims will certainly be an important factor in these types of cases.”
Chuck Lada
1:04 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
They need to assign more than one investigator to this case. I called at 9:00AM and left a voice mail and four hours later I have not gotten a call back.
JAIME NOLAN
1:17 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
THEY BETTER LOOK INTO TOMS RIVER POLICE TOWING AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES ALSO
TRman
1:34 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
I hate to agree but unless I am missing something I have trouble believing that they
could tow all of those cars through town and past the checkpoint without the Township or Police somehow involved. Someone is letting them in.
suz
1:31 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
It is so wrong what this guy did and is doing, if true...He needs to be punished.
I have spoken
1:55 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
7 On Your Side wants to talk to APK victims. Please call 917-260-7663. I'm not a victim this time but I was a few years back. I will enjoy watching this slobs hang.
i see it all
2:11 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Jamie Nolan do not point fingers at reputable tow company's due to ones negligence..in march while working under the tr police I saved a united water employees life while putting mine at risk.. I'm a highly trained an experience operator that has a college degree.. Please don't scrutinize us all because all of us follow an ordinance.. In this case they did not.. Hope you weren't affected during these times.. Thanks for your time
JAIME
2:24 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Don...lets say a tow company that is "politically connected" with the higher ups in the department and town and that lines their pockets with shall we say "kickbacks". You talk about following an ordinance, there have been many instances where tr police towing companies did not follow ordinances and brought unneccessary equipment to inflate a bill. That is very admirable of you risking your life for others, thank you. Just like Seaside, Toms River is filled with too much corruption!
Chief Wahoo
2:32 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
c'mon people give this guy a break, i am sure he is a hard working individual who donates his money to the sheriff and freeholders campaigns
i see it all
2:46 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Jamie I understand where your comming from now... As you may know THEY were removed for their actions...I assure you the company I represent operates to industry standards an has been around for more than 20 years doing 20 plus townships because of being a REPUTABLE company..what happened over the bridge well there's just no excuse
Fedup
2:53 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Hang him from the bridge as an example to every contractor who is going to head east with the same thought in mind.
1stcav
2:53 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Channel 12 showed a picture of the jeep clearly in the driveway and they towed it !They were suppose to tow any cars BLOCKING streets , so traffic can flow , not pull all cars easy to tow !If APK did this there done in Toms River, know one will use them when they NEED their car towed !
Chief Wahoo
3:01 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
they will just change their name to KPA
jerseykris
3:13 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
This article doesn't even get to the heart of what APK was doing over there. Please google and read the articles that describe how APK allegedly towed vehicles from private properties (driveways & lots, well beyond what they were originally authorized to do) and then charged residents as much as $900 to get there cars back.
If I went onto someone's property, took their car, then charged them a "storage fee". I'd be facing certain jail time. Supposedly, there are dozens of residents who have had this done to them. The Patch needs to stay on top of this.
As importantly, this isn't some carpetbagging company. They are from here in our own backyard. I encourage all of our local business to cut ties with them. If the owners live here in town, then they need to be socially and publicly scorned and shunned as well.
Tina
3:25 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
i am one of the victims, i have filed my complaint today after calling the police department since Monday, I have already spoken to a news outlet, but this company forcibly dragged my car from my back yard parking lot. See article below, you will see the pics.
http://www.examiner.com/article/seaside-heights-police-tow-company-being-investigated-for-post-sandy-fraud
Chuck Lada
3:54 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Maybe some of you sheeple can now understand why are government was falsely telling us it was unsafe to return to our homes. The truth was they needed more time to illegally tow vechicles before they would let us in to stop the scam. Anyone who belives that the police who were patroling for looters didn't see vehicles being towed off of private property must be very naive.
Chief Wahoo
5:04 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
imagine that.....the township, the police and the towing company were the LOOTERS !
trgirl
7:10 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Don't insult the TRPD, Wahoo. Some day, one of them might save YOUR life, and thanks to them many people Came thru Sandy alive. Looters...are you clueless?
Chuck Lada
5:32 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Chief, Denial is a powerful emotion. We are taught since we were children to "trust the police and your government". That is why people are in denial despite the fact pattern. For example people defended Ritacco until the day he plead guilty despite the ample facts presented in the indictment.
Chief Wahoo
6:00 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
not only denial but also anger....ever see how many people get mad at my posts and all i am trying to do is help them remove their chains......but they are scared sheep
stuffin
9:04 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012
So the township, the police and the emergency management folks all just allowed the towing company to decide what to tow? The police or anybody with authority during the emergency couldn't mark the vehicles, take pics or something to validate why a vehicle was removed? Some sort of recoprd keeping needed to be in place. Nothing like having no over sight and no witnesses during this scam. Hopefully this towing companys greed brings them down.
terry
6:16 pm on Sunday, November 18, 2012
lets get it right APK does not work nor r they on TRPD police rotation. They were working for seaside height police. So dont paint everybody with the guilty brush so quick