Officials at the California Department of Insurance are warning Southland residents of a “vehicle hostage” scam involving tow truck companies targeting motorists involved in traffic accidents.

“The last 48 hours have been bad,” said Stephen Gonneville, general manager at Interstate Towing. After a significant ... and we can’t even back a truck in the driveway,” Gonneville ...

The car wasn’t there, either. Ditommaso, one of 17 plaintiffs suing the city, said she was shocked to learn that the city relies on tow truck drivers dropping off handwritten forms to police districts ...