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Man accused of using tow truck to steal and crush 7 cars in Trenton

Trenton Police began tracking a pattern of thefts occurring throughout February and March.

Pedro Carmona

Apr 23, 2026, 5:59 AM

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A multi-month investigation into a brazen vehicle theft operation has led to the arrest of an Ewing man accused of using a tow truck to steal and scrap cars across the city.

The Trenton Police Department began tracking a pattern of thefts occurring throughout February and March 2026.

Surveillance footage in multiple cases revealed a consistent and bold tactic. A tow truck backing up to victims' vehicles and hauling them away without the owners' permission.

Detectives were able to track the tow truck’s path of travel directly to a local scrap yard. Investigators discovered that once the stolen vehicles arrived at the yard, they were immediately turned over to be crushed.

Through various investigative leads and techniques, detectives identified the suspect as Walter Mason, 45, of Ewing, New Jersey.

As a result of the investigation, Mason has been charged with seven total counts of theft of a motor vehicle.

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