Towing Issues: Broke down on freeway and now missing, maricopa county sherrifs office, tow companies

Question
My car is registered in Idaho, but while driving on freeway in Phoenix, Az I had car trouble and had to leave it there. When I went back the next night my toyota was gone. I called DPS and they had no record of it being towed. I called them for the next few days and was told it was not reported as being towed and that I should contact Mesa Police and report it stolen. Mesa PD told me that I have to report it to Maricopa County Sherrifs Office ,which they transfered me to, then they told me I need to contact DPS and was transfered back.. and then, you guessed it, they transfered me back again to MCSO so they could tell me I have to file a stolen vehicle report in person. Ok, so I was told by MCSO and DPS that there is no record of my car being towed by any company and no reports by any police departments and that whoever would tow it, by law has to inform them right away. I asked if I should grab the yellow pages and start calling all tow companies to see if any of them might have it. I was told no, because DPS would know if it had been towed. As I read alot of your answers and some you stated that a tow company has to send you notice by mail, which I would never get since I am not in Idaho. So, I guess my question is, do I believe DPS and not start calling the tow companies, or can just any tow company driving by my car tow it, not report it and then send me a letter, while the storage fees accumulate? (I just want to find my car and I cant imagine someone actually stealing and older (1990), broken down car from the freeway.)

Answer
Well, I hate to say this, but it might not have been towed by the police department...

I would do everything I could to file a stolen vehicle report including if you have to physically visit all 3 departments and do it.

Reason I say this is, that in 99% of the cases the police departments do order the tows, but at times the Department of Transportation (highway department do order them towed)...
But they generally notify the police it was towed...


NOW the other possibility is that someone stole the vehicle using a tow truck and it has now been sold to a scrap yard or chop shop for parts, yes there is a small percentage of dishonest people who have tow trucks. This has been happening all over the US, especially when the scrap metal prices are high.

Now if the police still do not want to take a stolen vehicle report, I would be considering that you do a notification to them in writing via "certified mail with return receipts requested" and that you also notify the Idaho DMV that the vehicle is possibly stolen also the same way...

Call it covering your butt, which can help when somehow the vehicle turns up in a tow yard and they are trying to charge you a huge towing and storage bill and let a collection agency loose on you...


Good luck and hope that you find the vehicle or get the stolen vehicle report done.