Towing Issues: Hooked tow truck up to my vehicle when I came to a stop., tow truck driver, question pool

Question
When I stopped my car in front of garage I rented, a tow truck drove up quick and slide arms under my car.  I jumped out with motor running and ran up to the tow truck driver sitting behind the wheel.  I asked him what he was doing?  He said he was taking my vehicle.  I was in front of my rented garage inside my vehicle with the motor running and lights on.  When he refused to release my car I called 911.  He then took off with my vehicle.  He never got out of the tow truck and drove off with the motor running.  My car has to be placed in certain gears, a Geo Tracker Four Wheel Drive.  The Police stopped him somewhere around the block from where I live.  I waited a long time and the police never came to me.  I called back 911 and asked where was the Ofcr.  They said that he could not do anything, a civil matter.  I was scared and going into diabetic stuppor.  I yelled for help.  I did not know what to do.  I did not know that a tow truck could tow you when in your vehicle and you stopped in front of your rented garage, as I have a thousand times to either put or get something from the garage or to just open the garage door to park. I feel like my car was car jacked?  If that is what you call it.  A police Officer who lives there said he saw the same guy earlier driving around fishing?  I really do not know what that means. I am 66 years old and getting older by the second.  I had to pay 241.00 to get my car out. My buisness depends on it and they had my house and car keys.  They were in the ignition!  Please help me.

Thank you

Pat

Answer
Pat, sorry about the delay, as this question was sent to a general question pool which I did not know about till today..

OK from what you described to me in the question, it sounds like the tow truck driver was in the wrong here...  Yes we have trucks which can hook up and tow vehicles without getting out of the truck.. Sounds like he had one... Now the point about you being in it and all that...  If that's the case then why is he not out taking cars at traffic lights when they are red and the cars are stopped (blocking roadway)... This kind of actions by the tower are what we in the industry are trying to get over..  Some people are just unethical in business practices.

Yes the police were correct, when the vehicle is off the property it is really a civil problem...And its the same if they are on the property hooking up to the vehicle. However a lot of police officers will help determine if its legal or not for the tow...

As to him "fishing" we call it patrol towing, where the tow truck cruises though lots which they hopefully have contracts for and if they find vehicles in violation then they are towed away... Now in many areas this practice is under close review and being banned in some states... California is one where its really getting regulated for patrol towing...

Best bet, if you have not resolved this issue is small claims court...  I know it would be better if the police did something, but proof is hard to come by most of the time in regards to vehicles which were parked. It's a lot of he says, verses he says.