For Cleveland mom Samaria Holt, a late-night crash did not end when the tow truck pulled away. She says she was first hit in a hit-and-run, then hit again when her wrecked car was towed and, she alleges, rifled through while it sat in the impound lot.
Holt told reporters she left her wallet, phone, and her 3-year-old son's car seat in the vehicle after the crash, and that when she finally got to the lot, the stereo and other belongings were gone. Until she can replace what was lost, she now leans on buses and rideshares to get her son to therapy while investigators and the towing company try to sort out what happened.
Holt said the crash happened last month on East 79th Street near St. Clair Avenue and that her phone later pinged at Kufner Towing's lot. As reported by News 5 Cleveland, Kufner's manager told investigators that the tow driver handed the phone over, that the driver was fired, and that the company returned Holt's phone. News 5 Cleveland also reports the Cleveland Division of Police "initiated a police report for this incident," and Holt says the impounded vehicle was "completely rummaged," with the glovebox on the floor and several items missing.
What attorneys say victims can seek
Attorney Dan Myers told News 5 Cleveland that when a tow company is providing a personal service, it can trigger consumer protections under state law and that such companies must, in his words, "return your property in at least as good a condition as they got it." He said intentional theft from a vehicle in a company's custody could open the door to punitive damages or other civil claims.
Practical steps for drivers
If your car is towed and you discover damage or missing property, consumer attorneys say your first move should be to document everything. That means photos, a detailed list of missing items, and copies of the tow receipt or any paperwork from the lot, followed by filing a police report as soon as possible.
Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act lays out civil remedies for unfair or deceptive business practices, and you can see the statute in the Ohio Revised Code. The Ohio Attorney General also maintains an online complaint portal for consumer disputes involving towing and other services.
In Cleveland, towed vehicles are typically processed through the city impound system. The city notes that vehicles can be retrieved at the One Stop Vehicle Impound Center on Quigley Road and that release procedures and fees are posted on the City of Cleveland site.
Company response and oversight
Kufner Towing lists its dispatch number and lot at 3775 Ridge Road on its website and describes itself as a 24/7 operation. The company told News 5 Cleveland it fired the driver involved in Holt's case and returned her phone.
Ohio regulators and courts have long wrestled with towing practices. The Public Utilities Commission and state administrative rules set limits and notice requirements for nonconsensual tows, as outlined in state filings and court decisions such as proceedings before the Supreme Court of Ohio. If you suspect unlawful conduct, consumer advocates recommend saving all receipts, demanding a written inventory of your car's contents from the lot, and considering a complaint to regulators or a civil claim.
Holt says she still has not received a full accounting of what happened and is waiting on the police and the tow company to explain how belongings disappeared from a vehicle that was supposed to be in custody. Her case is a pointed reminder to check a towed vehicle as soon as you can, keep meticulous records, and follow the complaint channels laid out by state and local authorities if you believe you need to pursue a civil or criminal claim.
