NC man claims truck was stolen in North Hills while under care of valet service
A North Carolina man said his Ram 1500 TRX was stolen in April in North Hills while under the care of a valet service.
Joel Hopkins said he left his truck with a Royal Parking Inc. valet worker before heading to Firebirds Wood Fired Grill to celebrate his mother’s birthday. He would never see the truck again.
Adding insult to injury, he says a worker for the North Hills property put the blame on him and asked if his car had been repossessed.
“They were very rude and didn’t want to help. They asked us if our car was repossessed due to late payment on the vehicle,” Hopkins said. “It felt racist.”
WRAL 5 On Your Side asked North Hills about the allegations of racism twice. A spokesperson wouldn’t address it directly but said they were “aware of this incident” and had notified Raleigh police.
Raleigh police told WRAL 5 On Your Side that they are “actively working the case.”
An attorney not affiliated with the case said Royal Parking Inc. could be financially responsible if it is found that it contributed to the theft.
WRAL 5 On Your Side contacted Royal Parking Inc. more than a dozen times, including in person, on the phone, and via emails and messages. The company has not responded.
WRAL 5 On Your Side found that three complaints against Royal Parking Inc. were filed with the North Carolina Attorney General’s office, alleging predatory ticketing. In one case, Royal Parking Inc. denied wrongdoing. In another, it admitted it made a mistake by ticketing the wrong driver, and in one case voided a ticket when the driver filed a complaint with Royal Parking.
Royal Parking Inc. has an F rating on the Better Business Bureau's website. On its site, one man reported his car was returned with smashed windows and $3,000 in damages.
Hopkins says he plans to sue Royal Parking Inc. for any costs not covered by insurance.
Protecting your car from break-ins
Car break-ins happen all year long, but police say they tend to increase as the weather warms up. It's why the Raleigh police and surrounding law enforcement agencies preach the importance of a 9 p.m. routine.
The routine is a small action that can have a big payoff. Every night, officers say you should
- Take any valuables out of your car
- Lock your car
- Leave a light on outside your home.
It sounds like a no-brainer, but law enforcement officials say most car break-ins and thefts occur because a car was left unlocked.
