Roswell tow truck bandit has stolen, stripped several cars, police say

Since January, 11 incidents have occurred in Roswell where vehicles have been stolen via tow truck and then stripped down to their bare bones. The most recent incident happened on Sept. 22.

Since January, 11 incidents have occurred in Roswell where vehicles have been stolen via tow truck and then stripped down to their bare bones. The most recent incident happened on Sept. 22.

A crime trend involving vehicles being towed and torn apart has developed in Roswell this year.

The most recent in the string of incidents occurred on Sept. 22. According to a police report, a man from Ocala, Florida was staying overnight in the Holiday Inn on Mansell Road. At 5:58 a.m., surveillance cameras from the Waffle House across the street captured a tow truck hauling away his 2012 silver Cadillac.

"I looked out of the window to remote start the car from our room and didn't see it," the victim told Channel 2 Action News. "So, I told my wife, 'I think the car's been stolen.' (We) went outside and it was gone."

According to a police report, the car was found on Sept. 28 by a Cobb County police officer. The Cadillac was “completely stripped,” missing its tires, front bumper, engine and accessories.

Since January, Roswell has had 10 other similar instances occur, where cars are towed away and then stripped down to their shells. In all of the incidents, the vehicles were taken from locations near or off of Holcomb Bridge Road.

Roswell police spokesperson Lisa Holland said in an email on Wednesday that police “do not have any updates” on the cases of the missing cars. No suspect has been identified.

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Most of these incidents have originated at apartment complexes and hotels, police said. Among vehicles stolen have been cars, trucks, SUVs and motorcycles.

Here’s what has been stolen, according to police records obtained by the AJC:

• 2004 green Ford F-250 - Jan. 10
• 2002 silver Suzuki motorcycle - Jan. 28
• 2004 gold Cadillac Escalade - Feb. 11
• 2008 blue Chevy Trailblazer - June 30
• 2017 silver Dodge Challenger - July 4
• 2014 blue Honda Accord - Aug. 6
• 2014 white Toyota Camry - Aug. 6
• 2009 white Chevy Silverado - Aug. 10
• 2016 blue Dodge Charger - Aug. 15
• 2005 trailer - Aug. 21
• 2012 silver Cadillac CTS-V - Sept. 22

The white Chevy Silverado was also found in Cobb County. The vehicle was stripped and left on cinder blocks. The blue Chevy Trailblazer was found in Roswell without its tires and dashboard, according to police reports.

The police department turned to its Facebook page on Oct. 4 to ask the public for assistance, showing images of the surveillance footage from the most recent incident at the Holiday Inn. Police are looking for any information related to the tow truck or the driver.

Police say the tow truck is unmarked is either black or dark green. Police said its make, year and model are unknown.

Anyone with information about the tow truck, its driver or these incidents are asked to call Detective O. Jones with the Roswell Police Department at 770-640-4473.

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