A Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation worker and his relative were charged in an alleged tow truck scam where they towed vehicles and charged car owners to get their cars back.
Lennie Perry, 40, of the 7500 block of South Maryland Avenue and Arica Perry, 28, of the 9000 block of South Harvard Avenue, were each charged with theft by deception, according to police.
Officers were flagged down around 11:20 p.m. Friday in the 500 block of South Columbus Drive by a 39-year-old woman who told them her vehicle, which had been parked on the same block, had been towed by a Streets and Sanitation tow truck.
The woman claimed that when she approached the tow truck driver to ask about her vehicle, the driver told her she had to pay a nominal fee, said to be $150, to get her car back and directed her to a woman claiming to be an employee of the Department of Streets and Sanitation who was parked nearby.
Police investigated the woman’s allegations and arrested Lennie and Arica Perry.
The Chicago Tribune, citing police sources, reports that officials believe the scam has been going on for at least two months and that several cars were found near a downtown impound by Lower Wacker Drive where the towed cars were said to have been taken.
The driver reportedly has a criminal history and was hired as part of a second-chance program.
Local
A request for comment from a spokesperson for the Department of Streets and Sanitation was not immediately returned.
Area Central detectives are investigating.
