Shuttered San Francisco, California, remains a hotbed of criminal activity, despite Mayor London Breed's assertions of improved public safety. Police statistics reveal a notable surge in burglaries in districts like Taraval, Ingleside, and Richmond, once considered quieter neighborhoods. In February, there were 879 reported vehicle break-ins in San Francisco, averaging around 30 incidents per day and concentrated in tourist-heavy areas near Fisherman’s Wharf. 

For one Bay area couple, a new kind of car crime cruised into their coordinates on Tuesday. An East Bay resident, only identified by her first name, Joanne, and her husband were running morning errands together, and were stopped at a red light along the downtown streets of Bush and Montgomery when they realized something strange was happening. 

Joanne, speaking exclusively with KGO, said,

We were at a stoplight and minding our own business. He came from the side. I thought he was turning right.

The couple initially thought a yellow Specialty Towing truck was moving toward a nearby Waymo autonomous vehicle. However, the situation took an uncomfortable turn as the tow truck began to reverse toward the couple's 2017 Toyota Corolla. 

Joanne reports that the lights came on, and the truck's lever began to lower, saying,

He started in reverse and all the lights came on. That's when we were like, 'Hey something's really wrong.' His lever was coming down.

An eyewitness caught the chaotic scene on video, which shows the tow truck driver making multiple attempts to hook onto the couple's vehicle, and the bystander yelling, "What the f**k are you doing?!"

Reader warning: profane language<

Tow truck appears to try and pick up occupied car sitting in San Francisco traffic

🎥 Jeff Ferland pic.twitter.com/ZjjMageDKo

— SFGATE (@SFGate) April 10, 2024

Joanne recalls the situation, saying,

In broad daylight, in the middle of downtown San Francisco, we were basically targeted. Basically, he's just backing up and trying to latch onto our car. And we were freaking out. We were calling, we were like basically rolling down our windows saying like, 'Hey, like, what are you doing? You can't be doing that.'

This woman and her husband were stopped at a light at Montgomery & Bush yesterday morning when a tow truck comes out of nowhere & tries to hook onto their Toyota!

I spoke to Joanne today who says her car is paid off, paid her registration & doesn’t get why her car was targeted.… pic.twitter.com/6p2z0yBEfg

— Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) April 11, 2024

After the light turned green, the Waymo vehicle beside Joanne and her husband drives away. However, a black sedan pulls alongside the couple's car, effectively blocking them again. Once the black sedan clears an exit path, Joanne and her husband can't escape the tow truck driver's apparent attempt to abduct them. 

But their frightening ordeal is not over, as Joeanne claims that the tow truck proceeded to chase them for several blocks. Joanne and her husband eventually were able to lose the tow truck and drive back home to the East Bay. 

The couple is perplexed as to why they were targeted, as well as what would have happened to them if the tow truck driver had been successful in his attempts to hook onto their car. Joanne says her car is paid off and her registration is up to date.

In February, Specialty Towing along with two other companies were charged by City Attorney David Chiu for fraud and illegally towing parked cars. Chiu's office described the company as "unscrupulous" in its press release. Specialty Towing is now prohibited from bidding or receiving city contracts.

Joanne says she plans to file a police report, and is sharing the couple's story to raise awareness, imploring drivers to be alert and protect themselves "if something doesn't look right."

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