Family towing business forced to start from scratch after theft
DeKalb County thieves steal $125,000 tow truck
According to police, thieves cut a gate lock on Memorial Drive to steal a $125,000 tow truck from a local business.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A DeKalb County small business owner is searching for answers after thieves broke into his property on Thursday and stole a locked tow truck worth $125,000.
DeKalb business targeted
What we know:
Two people broke into Abdul's Towing last Thursday after cutting a lock at the front gate. Surveillance footage captured the individuals making their way to one of the company's two tow trucks.
It took the criminals about 20 minutes to steal the vehicle, which the owner assured was locked. The truck is worth about $125,000 and was utilized to provide services across DeKalb County.
The truck was equipped with a GPS tracker, but the owner believes the thieves managed to disarm it. While the business has insurance on the vehicle, the policy does not provide coverage for theft.
Search for suspects
What we don't know:
Investigators have not yet determined how the thieves managed to bypass the locks on the commercial vehicle. Police are still working to identify the two individuals caught on the security camera.
Small family impact
What they're saying:
"We are a small business, small family, trying to grow, trying to help people," owner Abdul Albidairi said. He noted that losing anything at this stage of life takes a severe toll on a business they worked hard to build.
"If they took parts this, I just need the truck, I can build it back," Albidairi said. He added that replacing the truck means getting it financed, which feels like starting from scratch.
Reward money offered
What you can do:
Albidairi is offering a $3,000 reward to anyone who can provide information that helps recover the stolen truck. He stated he would even give the reward money to the thieves if they return the vehicle safely.
DeKalb County police ask anyone with information regarding the incident or the location of the commercial vehicle to contact them immediately.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from Abdul's Towing owner, Abdul Albidairi, who explained how the theft occurred and provided surveillance details, as well as the DeKalb County Police Department.