Of course we charge Victims of Crime

LAG Towing's contract mandates that it must "tow, free of charge, any vehicles owned by any victim of any crime." But The Citizens Voice found 10 instances in which customers paid to recover cars that were documented by the company as being stolen.

LAG Towing owner Leo Glodzik III said Wednesday that he could explain every case, but he was short on specifics.

• Of course he was, he makes it up as he goes along.

"I'm telling you how it is, there is not a person that has a stolen car that was a victim of a crime who was charged by me," Glodzik said.

• Except that 83 year old women who LAG extorted the title from, Oh ya and the 10 or so the papers caught them with.

Nancy Hooker, a 29-year-old Wilkes-Barre resident, said she had to pay $500 to retrieve her stolen car last April. Her car was recovered in Wilkes-Barre Township. LAG told her the rule preventing victims from being billed didn't apply if the car was found outside the city.

But per the Time Leader reported, Charlotte and Bryan Schmidt, of Wilkes-Barre said Glodzik required them to pay $245 to reclaim their 2006 Chrysler minivan that was stolen on Sept. 25, 2010 from the parking lot of the City Heights apartment complex on North Sherman Street. The car was recovered on Park Avenue about four hours after they reported it stolen, said Bryan Schmidt. They immediately went to LAG’s lot on Carey Avenue in Wilkes-Barre to reclaim it and were told they owed $145 for the tow and $100 for storage, he said.

• Hum stolen in Wilkes Barre, Recovered in Wilkes Barre, Yet charged as a Victim of Crime???

"The only way I found out the towing company had my car (was) because the day after they recovered my car, it was on the front page of the newspaper," Hooker said.

• Oh no the police and Leo didn’t call them either???

"I can't assume or speculate," Leighton said. "I have the police department pulling those files."

• What you mean to say Your Lordship is, you’re not going to do a darn thing so suck it up!

Leighton also said Glodzik told him customers must provide a copy of a police report to prove the car was stolen.

However, Paul Falzone, owner of Falzone Towing, said he doesn't require that paperwork. Falzone tows cars for Hanover Township and also does not charge victims of a crime. "The victim just has to show up with proof of ownership," Falzone said. "Once the vehicle is released pending processing, the vehicle is returned to the rightful owner."

• It should also be noted that Wilkes Barre Police Department WILL NOT provide anyone with a report on an OPEN investigation. 

City Spokesmen Drew Mc-Laugh-Lin said city officials were unable to immediately confirm the Schmidts’ claims because police reports in 2010 were not computerized.

• WAIT, What are you talking about Drew: Back in 2008 the city applied for and received TWO grants to buy a NEW RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM called Total Enforcement. 
• Are you telling me that after all the reports the Police Chief sent in, stating this records management systems works great, it’s not working at all????

"I don't defend any of our vendors, but I have to live by what the contract says," Leighton said.

• Um what? If that were even remotely true, you would have terminated this one, back when Leo LIED to Judge Gelb…

"You can't just terminate the guy's contract unless you have a legitimate reason," Leighton said. "It's gotta be something we feel has hampered the city." Leighton said simply failing to keep receipts was not enough to fire the company. "Him not having receipts isn't affecting the way I'm running the city or the way the police department operates," Leighton said. "I'm concerned with the service he provides, how he treats people and if his charges are in line with other companies."

Council chairman Bill Barrett said he believes failing to keep receipts would be sufficient grounds for termination. However, Barrett said he'd like to see hard evidence of any wrongdoing before he would second a motion to recommend LAG Towing's firing. "You'd need to tell me what was violated and how it was violated," Barrett said.

Bill pull you head out of the King’s backside long enough to get this:

• LAG didn’t file the proper paperwork with the state

• LAG charged storage fees without notifying the owners

• LAG violated his contract when he charged victims of crime

Under the state motor vehicle code, any tower or salvager who takes possession of an abandoned vehicle must file the required form with PennDOT within 48 hours. Anyone who violates the law could be charged with a summary offense.

• Wake Up Billy, if you wanted to fire LAG, you have more than enough reason, but the TRUTH is you do what The King tells you to do, and always have.

LAG Towing also did not submit any of the necessary forms to tow and possess abandoned vehicles to the state in 2012, according Jan McKnight, spokeswoman with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. She said the company submitted the forms in 2011 but would not say how many without a Right-to-Know request.

• So Ms. McKnight when Mark Robbins requested this same information, your office responded with “we have 998 abandoned vehicle applications, and you will need to send $5.00 per copy.” ARE YOU NUTZ? Asking a private citizen to pay $4,990 to investigate an Auto Theft Ring!!!

"Instead of filling out all the paperwork, I contact people and make a deal myself," Glodzik said.

• I think what Leo means here is, He contacts the people and extorts the title, like the 83 year old woman, that’s the deal he makes himself.

The state Motor Vehicle Code requires towing companies to file a report with PennDOT within 48 hours of taking an abandoned vehicle into their possession. LAG Towing's contract requires it to "comply, at all times," with that code, along with all federal, state, and local laws.

McKnight said PennDOT has NOT sanctioned LAG Towing and declined to say if any sanctions were being considered.

• Wake Up McKnight you know as well as I do, PennDot will do NOTHING, as they have already been told not to.

Wake Up Wilkes Barre

Source:

• Records show violation of W-B towing contract
• No forms may be problem for tower
• LAG Towing investigation criticized
• More claim they were hooked
• Total Un-Enforcement