Woman's car stolen from service shopMechanic reportedly gave keys to a stranger
Woman's car stolen from service shop
Mechanic reportedly gave keys to a stranger
By Andy Cerota
(9/20/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - A local woman is left empty-handed after she claims a Wal-Mart employee gave the keys to her car to a complete stranger. What was supposed to be a quick visit to Wal-Mart Tire and Lube Express on FM 1960 in northwest Harris County to fix a bad tire turned into a nightmare for Martha Velazquez.
She said, "I basically told them, I said, 'I need my tire to be replaced. I have a hole that cannot be fixed. I've already verified that with my mechanic.'"
Velazquez had no idea having her tire replaced would cost her in a way she never imagined.
"I started freaking out," she recalled. "I started hyperventilating. I couldn't breathe."
It wasn't because the job took nearly four hours. Velazquez says she became hysterical when the mechanic told her that her car was gone.
"I ask him for my keys. He then in turn says, 'I gave your keys to your husband. He drove the car out,'" Velazquez told Eyewitness News. "So you can just imagine my feeling. My heart just dropped. And I'm like, 'What do you mean, my husband? I don't have a husband!' I was like, 'You know I was here by myself. I don't have a husband. You're joking!'"
It was no joke. Velazquez no longer had a car. It was given to someone she didn't even know. The case is now in the hands of Houston police. Wal-Mart did provide Velazquez with a rental car for five days.
We went to Wal-Mart's Tire and Lube Express Wednesday morning in search of answers, but we were escorted out by an employee who said he couldn't make any comments. Later we talked to a Wal-Mart spokesperson over the phone, who told us the company is cooperating with police.
Velazquez has since hired an attorney. Her reason for speaking out is simple.
"I don't think that's right," she said. "I really, really want to make people aware of this."
Wal-Mart sent Eyewitness News an email, once again making the point that the company continues to cooperate with Houston police and beyond that, it couldn't comment on an open investigation. A company spokesperson also told us they plan to hand over surveillance tape to police. But as of late Wednesday afternoon, police have not received that tape.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)
Copyright ©2006 ABC Inc., KTRK-TV Houston.
Mechanic reportedly gave keys to a stranger
By Andy Cerota
(9/20/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - A local woman is left empty-handed after she claims a Wal-Mart employee gave the keys to her car to a complete stranger. What was supposed to be a quick visit to Wal-Mart Tire and Lube Express on FM 1960 in northwest Harris County to fix a bad tire turned into a nightmare for Martha Velazquez.
She said, "I basically told them, I said, 'I need my tire to be replaced. I have a hole that cannot be fixed. I've already verified that with my mechanic.'"
Velazquez had no idea having her tire replaced would cost her in a way she never imagined.
"I started freaking out," she recalled. "I started hyperventilating. I couldn't breathe."
It wasn't because the job took nearly four hours. Velazquez says she became hysterical when the mechanic told her that her car was gone.
"I ask him for my keys. He then in turn says, 'I gave your keys to your husband. He drove the car out,'" Velazquez told Eyewitness News. "So you can just imagine my feeling. My heart just dropped. And I'm like, 'What do you mean, my husband? I don't have a husband!' I was like, 'You know I was here by myself. I don't have a husband. You're joking!'"
It was no joke. Velazquez no longer had a car. It was given to someone she didn't even know. The case is now in the hands of Houston police. Wal-Mart did provide Velazquez with a rental car for five days.
We went to Wal-Mart's Tire and Lube Express Wednesday morning in search of answers, but we were escorted out by an employee who said he couldn't make any comments. Later we talked to a Wal-Mart spokesperson over the phone, who told us the company is cooperating with police.
Velazquez has since hired an attorney. Her reason for speaking out is simple.
"I don't think that's right," she said. "I really, really want to make people aware of this."
Wal-Mart sent Eyewitness News an email, once again making the point that the company continues to cooperate with Houston police and beyond that, it couldn't comment on an open investigation. A company spokesperson also told us they plan to hand over surveillance tape to police. But as of late Wednesday afternoon, police have not received that tape.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)
Copyright ©2006 ABC Inc., KTRK-TV Houston.
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