COLUMBUS, Ohio — A few tenants who live at an apartment complex in north Columbus believe they may have been victims of a scam after their cars were towed last week.
Effrem Blackwell Sr. said his car was towed unexpectedly last Thursday. He was getting ready for work when he looked outside and someone caught his attention.
"One of my neighbors said hey, Maynard's just took your vehicle,” Blackwell said.
Blackwell’s vehicle was parked in one of the lots at the Riverlodge Apartments complex on Broad Meadows Boulevard where he lives. The neighbor claimed Maynard’s Towing took his car.
At first, Blackwell assumed management for the complex requested the tow, so he contacted them.
"Why are you all having my vehicle towed after you gave me permission to leave it there? And they responded, well, we didn't have your vehicle towed,” Blackwell said.
As the mystery continued, Blackwell found out he wasn’t alone.
"Another person from another apartment complex came down and heard about what happened to me and said their vehicle was taken at the same time,” Blackwell said.
They also noticed several vehicles with written warnings on windows claiming their tags were expired or tires were flat. Several tires could be seen with purple markings on them as well.
These incidents forced management to post notices on doors throughout the complex. The notices are advising tenants that they did not authorize any towing of vehicles. They’re also asking anyone who may have been impacted to contact them and report any suspicious activity.
On Saturday, Blackwell said it happened again.
"They took one of the workers that works in the management office, they removed her vehicle,” Blackwell said.
One week later, Blackwell said he still doesn’t have his car back, and he’s extremely frustrated.
"That's something you work hard for and just in a whisper, the snap of a finger, it’s gone,” Blackwell said.
Blackwell wants answers on why the towing company agreed to take these vehicles from private property without proper authorization. 10TV reached out to Maynard’s Towing for comment and did not hear back.
Management for the apartment complex also declined to comment.