$20,000 Reward Offered After 4 Tow Trucks Are Stolen

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HIALEAH (CBSMiami) – A beleaguered Hialeah businessman is offering a $20,000 reward after someone stole four tow trucks from two of his businesses.

He says new surveillance tape shows the men at one location. He also believes they are part of, "a Hialeah gang."

"It's horrible," said Tony Lopez. "I have been in business 20 years now and I have been working hard day and night and for somebody to come in and take my trucks and set me back a couple of years in minutes after everything I work for is incredible."

Lopez told CBS4's Peter D'Oench says it is the first time he has been victimized but he says the thieves have taken a terrible toll on him. He says the vehicles are worth $20,000 each and are not insured.

He says the crimes happened early on the morning of Thursday, December 28th, just three days after Christmas.

"I feel bad man," he said.  "The crooks came in to my business and they just have a ball. They take four trucks late at night. It doesn't feel good."

"They stole 2 from my dealership Done Deal Auto AT 2653 Northwest 106th street," he said. "They were an F 250 and an F 350."  Lopez showed CBS4 photos of the two trucks that were stolen.

Lopez also showed CBS4 surveillance tape of the men who were captured at 3:23 a.m. last Thursday stealing two tow trucks from PSN Auto Center at 7791 N.W. 178th Street.

He said those trucks were recovered at West 12th Avenue and West 24th Street in Hialeah.

"It's a big gang out of Hialeah," said Lopez. "I've done research. They have been stealing these diesel trucks for their interiors, their lights, for their tailgates and their engines."

Both men in the surveillance tape are wearing hoodies. One image shows a face. Lopez hopes the criminals will be caught.

"For me it would mean a lot," said Lopez. "I am offering a $20,000 reward. Anybody who comes forward with any information, with the arrest of these individuals I mean I'm just dying to pay somebody the money."

Lopez believes the thieves have an accomplice who was not captured on camera.

"Whoever gets here first is going to get $20,000," he said. "This is why I am being proactive. I don't care what it costs. We are going to find these individuals. We have to stop this one way or another."

Lopez said he is receiving a number of tips on the suspects from those who want to help.

Miami-Dade Police say they are actively working on this case.

So far it is not known if they have any suspects or leads.

Police has been told that they broke open the front gate of the Northwest Miami-Dade business.

Anyone with information that can help should call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).