HOUSTON -- Nearly two dozen Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo attendees said their cars were towed last weekend after they fell victim to a parking scam, 11 News’ Brad Woodard reported.
Chris Underwood said they paid to park in a lot in the 9400 block of South Main.
“We were already running a little late. There was no parking at Reliant,” said Chris Underwood. “There was a guy with a flag and reflective vest waving everyone in to park.”
The lot is located behind stores at a largely vacant strip mall.
“It did kind of look a little fishy,” Underwood said. “He told us to talk to the owner of the store and he said ‘yeah, we're parking just pay that guy.’”
After attending Jason Aldine’s concert, Underwood returned to discover that Jet Wrecker Services had towed his vehicle to a nearby impound lot. It cost him nearly $200 to get it out, he said.
Houston police said approximately 20 cars were towed.
“I think it was a scam,” Underwood said. “I don't know how much these guys knew about it, they knew we were going to get towed.”
11 News spoke with a man who identified himself as an employee of the store and he said people were being charged to park, but they were supposed to be gone by closing time: 8 p.m.
When asked if he knew how 11 News could get in touch with the people who were in charge of parking he said ‘no.’
