Tow Truck Driver Accused Of Stealing Crashed Vehicles And Selling Them For Scrap: ISP

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL – A 36-year-old tow truck driver is accused of possessing and selling motor vehicles stolen from crash scenes. Saeed E. Mustafa, of Chicago Ridge, is facing multiple felonies, Illinois State Police said.

The owner of a vehicle reported to Illinois State Police on Feb. 12 that it was stolen off the Bishop Ford freeway on I-94 after it had been involved in a crash. The ISP said the owner called a private towing company and left the vehicle. When the private towing company arrived, the vehicle went missing.

The trooper initiated an extensive investigation that revealed a suspect tow truck driver, later identified as Mustafa, was traveling in the area and took the owner’s vehicle without the owner’s authority.

Mustafa is alleged to have driven the vehicle to a local junk car company and provided the junker with false paperwork indicating that he had the authority to sell the vehicle. Further investigation revealed Mustafa recently brought several vehicles to the same junk car company in exchange for money, police said.

State troopers expanded their investigation into the other vehicles Mustafa reportedly sold, discovering numerous vehicles had been reported stolen out of Chicago and Indiana. Mustafa was spotted driving his town truck on I-94. Troopers took Mustafa into custody after initiating a traffic stop.

Mustafa was charged with six felony counts of conspiracy to receive/possess/sell stolen motor vehicles. He was being held pending his first court appearance.