Tow companies accused of taking cars illegally and overcharging outside shopping center, church

For the past six months, Monte Mabra has noticed the same black tow truck circling shopping centers on Milwaukee’s northwest side.

"Every time I go, a customer is running out of the store saying, 'Don't take my car, don't take my car!'" he said.

The truck only has a 1-800 phone number displayed on its side. It frequently tows cars that Mabra says are parked legally at shopping centers along N. 76th Street from Capitol Drive to Mill Road, like the Hampton Shopping Center.

Mabra started stepping in — and filming — the tow truck encounters this month. So far, he has stopped at least three cars from being towed.

The owners of the companies operating in the parking lot, DT2 Towing LLC and Kings in Trucking Express LLC, denied that their drivers tow cars illegally. They were aware of Mabra’s videos on social media, but said they do not portray what's really going on.

They also criticized the videos, alleging they've wrongfully given the companies "a bad rap," leading to an increase in break-ins at the company's lot.

"We don't touch any vehicle that wasn't either in the handicap (spot), fire lane, or things of that nature," said David McElrath, Kings in Trucking owner, in an interview.

But Public Investigator found problems with how the companies are operating.

Kings in Trucking isn't licensed with the city of Milwaukee to tow cars from private property, and its LLC registration has lapsed, according to city and state records.

Because of that, the towing companies are not legally permitted to work together, city officials say.

In addition, city regulations stipulate that cars can only be towed at the request of the property owner.

However, DT2 Towing owner Don Thurmond told Public Investigator they do not tow at the owner’s request, but instead patrol the lots 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The city's license division manager, Jim Cooney, said Wednesday the two companies have been referred to the Milwaukee Police Department's License Investigation Unit after Public Investigator began asking questions.

Any reports or citations, plus any complaints from the public, will be made part of the license file and "could be grounds for discipline at the time of license renewal," Cooney said.

Two companies work together to tow cars, but only one holds the proper license, city says

When cars are towed, they're taken to DT2 Towing located at 2620 W. Silver Spring Drive.

However, the 1-800 number on tow trucks leads to Kings in Trucking Express.

Thurmond, DT2’s owner, said the number is for both businesses. It can reach his personal phone, the owner of Kings in Trucking's personal phone, and the lot's phone when it's open for business hours, he said.

City regulations require towing businesses that take cars without prior consent of the owner or operator of the vehicle to obtain a city license.

In an earlier interview, Cooney, the license division manager, said Kings in Trucking Express holds a license that only allows for nonconsensual towing in the case of bank repossession or from the public right of way to the city tow lot — not from a store's parking lot.

Thurmond told Public Investigator he holds the license needed to tow cars, while he contracts Kings in Trucking to aid in towing cars.

Cooney confirmed DT2 has the license needed, but he said the way the two companies are working together is not legal.

Kings in Trucking owner McElrath told Public Investigator he's properly licensed to take cars, he "just can't store them."

However, Cooney said businesses engaged in nonconsensual towing from private properties must hold their own license and have their own premises in the city.

Kings in Trucking also isn't properly registered as an LLC.

State records show the company was registered in 2019 but was administratively dissolved in June. An administratively dissolved company can later seek reinstatement if it corrects any deficiencies and pays all fees and penalties.

After Public Investigator spoke with the property owner of Hampton Shopping Center at 4801 N. 76th St., John Lewenauer, about these discrepancies, he called back — this time, with Thurmond and McElrath.

During the call on Tuesday, McElrath said he thought he was in compliance with city regulations and that his company has done everything "by the book." The owners of the two companies pledged to make changes.

The property owner had thought he only worked with Kings in Trucking but realized how the two companies worked together after speaking with Public Investigator. In a call Wednesday, he told Public Investigator he would only work with DT2 Towing moving forward.

Shopper said she had to pay $430 to get car back

After Unique Johnson took her baby into Save A Lot on Aug. 7, she realized she had forgotten something in her white truck.

When she returned to the parking lot, her truck was gone.

"I thought I was getting pranked," Johnson said.

Her truck had only been there for about five minutes, and she had parked correctly, she said. One of the towing companies later told her she had parked too close to accessible, or handicap, parking, which Johnson denied.

Johnson went back inside the store where employees advised her to call the number on a small sign in the parking lot: 1-800-774-5892, the number for Kings in Trucking Express .

As she waited for someone to pick up her and her daughter, Johnson panicked and cried as she wondered how she would get her truck back.

She was forced to pay nearly $430 to get her car back that same day.

Johnson also accused the towing companies of theft. She said $2,000 was missing from her truck when she picked it up. She showed Public Investigator a photo of broken cash bands in the truck, but said she did not report the theft to police because she did not think they would be able to help get her money back.

McElrath denied that Johnson's money was stolen and said employees never enter people's cars. McElrath and Thurmond said they did not recall any interactions with Johnson.

"You can't pay me to go in that parking lot,” Johnson said, “because it's like they just sit bored, just towing people's cars for nothing.”

More: What do I do if my car gets towed in Milwaukee?

More: Milwaukee's Abyss Towing loses license to operate in city after complaint about denied 'drop fee'

Companies deny they overcharge people who come to pick up their cars

State statutes outline when cars can be towed, as well as how much towing companies can charge.

State regulations allow a maximum towing fee of $150, plus an additional $25 to $35 for every day the vehicle is stored.

Fees can be added under unique circumstances if special equipment is required to tow the vehicle.

Videos and witness accounts of the cars towed by Kings in Trucking and DT2 Towing show employees using a hook and chain, a normal method outlined in state statutes.

However, Johnson and several others on social media describe being charged at least $430 immediately after their cars are towed.

But Thurmond said trucks often use special equipment, which legally raises the price, like the tools needed to raise a car onto a flatbed.

State statutes also require signage on the property stating unauthorized parking is prohibited. The notice should be at each vehicle entrance to the parking area or property.

Mabra, who has filmed the tow trucks, showed Public Investigator one sign posted on a pole above a handicap parking spotat 6410 N. 76th St.

Public Investigator could not find any more signs.

Evolve Church says members’ cars towed during worship services

Kyra Allen, a member of Evolve Church, is well-aware of Kings in Trucking Express and DT2.

The two companies frequently tow cars in the church parking lot during worship services, she said.

The problem got so bad, the church has designated people to watch the lot and make sure cars are not improperly towed, she added. The church is about two miles away from Hampton Shopping Center and less than a mile from the shopping center at 6410 N. 76th St.

Over the past month, Allen said she's increasingly noticed cars being taken from both the church's parking lot and the lot next door. An older woman’s car was towed with her house key inside, and a mother’s vehicle towed with her breast pump inside, she said.

"They have no compassion for people," she said.

Thurmond said his company is only towing cars that are improperly parked in fire lanes or accessible parking spots in the church lot.

He said he often tells church goers, "I'm sorry you're at church, but our job is to patrol their lot 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

The city’s license division has not received any complaints about the towing companies. Neither has the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

The city's licenses committee has revoked the licenses of private towing companies in the past. In 2019, the city announced plans to maintain report cards for towing companies that would include the number of tows performed and the number of complaints for every licensed private tow contractor.

However, Department of Public Works spokesperson Tiffany Shepherd said after a lawsuit ruling, the city can no longer require receipts, which were used to update report cards. Because of that, the towing report cards no longer exist.

Mabra said he posted his videos to raise awareness of the problem and prevent more cars from being towed.

Earlier this month, he shared a video of a woman whose car was nearly towed from the Times Square Shopping Center on Capitol Drive.

"They don't have a right to take your car," Mabra told her.

She was in an accessible parking spot and pointed out that her handicap permit was displayed at the front of her car.

The video later showed the men unhooking her car from the tow truck and leaving it in the parking lot.

Complaints about towing companies can be sent to the city of Milwaukee License Division at license@milwaukee.gov . Complaints about unlawful towing also can be sent through the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's online form .

Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter. She can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com . Follow her on Twitter at @Quinn_A_Clark .

About Public Investigator

Government corruption. Corporate wrongdoing. Consumer complaints. Medical scams. Public Investigator is a new initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin. Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth. We'll investigate anywhere in Wisconsin. Send your tips to watchdog@journalsentinel.com or call 414-319-9061. You can also submit tips at jsonline.com/tips .

Editor's note, Aug. 29, 2024: The story was updated to reference other shopping centers where the towing companies operate .

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tow companies accused of taking cars illegally and overcharging outside shopping center, church