Caught on camera: tow truck seen taking car from dealers lot

The thieves used a type of tow truck used by a repo-man because you can lower the tow arm from inside the truck and lift up a car in just seconds.

In this case the car wasn't being repossessed, it was being stolen from a family owned car lot in North Phoenix.

On January 21, just after 9:15 at night the surveillance cameras showed a dark colored tow truck, followed by a white flatbed driving onto the lot at the 101 Auto Outlet in North Phoenix.

Just under four minutes later the dark truck is seen driving away pulling behind it a 2007 Volkswagen GTI, but the car wasn't going in for service, it's being stolen right off the lot.

"You know it wasn't a smash and grab, or a hotwire, they simply backed up to it like they owned it, like they were repossessing it or something," said 101 Auto Outlet owner Scott Watson.

Watson says when they showed up to work on the January 22, they noticed the car was gone. It was the same day the new owner was coming to finish paperwork and take it home.

"We had a person approved, he came in the next day and I didn't have the heart to tell him it was taken, at that time I was hoping it would come back," he said.

Scott is hoping someone will recognize the trucks in the video and call Phoenix Police.

"Many people probably saw them, you know a bunch of people probably saw them, but just thought nothing of it," said Watson.

In just a matter of minutes, the thieves did a lot of damage to the family run business.

"You know you're not getting the car back, but you just want them to get caught so bad because you know it could close us. You know a couple of those could close us," said Watson.

About a year and a half ago Scott had another car stolen from his lot, but that person was caught thanks to surveillance video. He's hoping that happens again in this case.

If you think you have any information that may help solve this case, call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS, there may be a reward of up to $1,000.