Trenton Police say a tow truck that should have been hauling away breakdowns was instead quietly scooping up parked cars, hauling them to a scrap yard, and sending them to the crusher. A 45-year-old Ewing man was arrested and charged on April 21 after investigators alleged he used a tow truck to take at least seven vehicles without their owners' permission, move them to a local junk yard, and have them processed as scrap. Detectives say the string of thefts unfolded across February and March, and that surveillance footage and other investigative leads helped them build the case. The suspect faces multiple counts of theft of a motor vehicle.
According to Trenton Daily Voice, investigators reviewed video that appeared to show a tow truck backing up to legitimately parked cars and towing them away without authorization. The outlet reports the vehicles were then turned over at a local junk yard, where some were ultimately crushed.
How Investigators Tracked the Tow Truck
Det. Lt. David Ordille, public information officer for the Criminal Investigation Bureau’s Major Crimes Section, told Newport Dispatch that detectives traced the tow truck's movements and followed up on investigative leads to zero in on a suspect. According to the outlet, the probe focused on thefts that occurred during February and March, and recovered evidence ultimately guided officers to a local scrap yard where the cars had already been processed.
Charges and What Comes Next
Police arrested 45-year-old Walter Mason of Ewing and charged him with seven counts of theft of a motor vehicle, Newport Dispatch reported. Officials have not said whether more charges could follow or when Mason is scheduled to make his first court appearance.
Similar Tow-Truck Scams Around the Region
Authorities say this alleged playbook - use a tow truck, grab cars that are not yours, and rush them to junk yards - has popped up in other cases around the region. As reported by 6abc Philadelphia, a 2025 investigation centered on an Upper Darby suspect led police to multiple stolen vehicles that had been funneled through area junk yards.
What the Law Says About Stealing Cars
In New Jersey, theft and unlawful taking of motor vehicles are prosecuted under chapter 20 of Title 2C, and can bring felony-level charges along with restitution orders. Details on grading, potential penalties, and related offenses are laid out in the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice and summarized in resources such as CriminalDefenseLawyer.com.
