Tow truck driver takes mom’s vehicle with daughter, 5, inside – she left emergency lights on but they still ‘swooped in’

COPS are looking into a pregnant mother's claims that a tow company snatched her car while her five-year-old child was still inside.

The mom and a witness told police that she was standing outside her car while emergency flashers were engaged, but a tow truck quickly grabbed the vehicle.

The tow truck driver in San Antonio, Texas, is under investigation after towing a car with a 5-year-old girl inside, police told local ABC affiliate KSAT.

The investigation began after the girl's mother called 911 around 10:55 am on Monday.

She reported her child as missing and in danger in the phone call.

Police say the mother, who is nine months pregnant, had parked at an apartment complex.

The car was left running with the four-point hazard lights engaged while the mother tried to reach a neighbor.

She told authorities she kept her daughter in sight and was standing outside the apartment.

But a tow truck "swooped in" to grab the car and left with her young daughter still inside.

The mother also claimed the tow truck operator hadn't followed proper safety procedures, like securing the car with chains or installing brake lights.

A witness helped the mother, offering a ride to follow the tow truck.

During the pursuit, the mother said she experienced a medical emergency and had to pull over.

The mother was reunited with her daughter at the towing facility.

The child was not harmed during the tow.

The U.S. Sun contacted the San Antonio towing company for comment on this story. The company didn't immediately respond.

TOW TROUBLE

Another driver shared her terrifying experience with another tow operator in California.

Angelina, who chose to use only her first name in the media, was involved in a multi-car accident, according to NBC affiliate KNBC.

What to do if your car is towed

Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle.

If your vehicle is towed after parking in a "No Parking" zone or other legitimate reason, there are a few steps to take to get it back.

Steps to take when your car is towed:

• Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted "No Parking" sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
• Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail.
• Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.
• Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.

If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:

Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law Firm

She waited for police to arrive on the highway's shoulder after the wreck.

But a stranger pulled over and asked to be a witness. She shared her contact information with the other driver.

"The guy was like, 'I saw the car. I wanted to get your information so I can be a witness,'" she told the station.

But moments after the man took off with her information, her phone blew up with dozens of phone calls from a potential scam.

Her non-response to the phone calls kept her safe from the hundred-dollar scam, police said.