HOUSTON -- How safe is your car once you hand your keys to a valet? The Local 2 Troubleshooters used hidden cameras to find out in an investigation that aired Tuesday night.

Video

Troubleshooters Catch Valet Drivers Picking Cars Clean

When Local 2 handed over car keys to a downtown Houston valet, it didn't take long for the valet to start digging for money, according to the hidden camera.

Immediately, he took quarters and other change and went through other stuff.

But what he didn't know was that the Local 2 Troubleshooters placed the quarters there, counted all the money and then set up the car with hidden cameras catching the valet's every move.

He was not the only courthouse valet that went through cars left to be parked.

Local 2 was not sure what another valet was looking for, but at a stoplight, he took a look under a compartment and picked up a handful of quarters.

But unlike the first valet, he put them back.

Local 2's hidden camera video is a shock to other customers, such as Debora Ybarra. She parked her car with the valets and said the rip-offs were ironic since they are happening right outside the Harris County Criminal Courthouse.

"Are you going to be going through your things?" Local 2's Stephen Dean asked.

"Probably. (I'll) probably double check," she said.

Crime victims, jurors, lawyers and others may be wishing they had checked their cars, too. They trusted their vehicles to the official courthouse car-parkers, which is the county's test run letting a private company operate the service. Customers are charged $16 a day.

On any given day, the talk among courthouse visitors is the huge parking hassles. Many use the valet service because they feel like they have no choice.

The Troubleshooters put the courthouse valet service to the hidden camera test for a full month and they were ripped off on their first three visits.

First, they caught the valet stealing change as he parked the car.

When he went back to pick it up, the valet worked hard to figure out how to open up a compartment.

He went through a wallet and more stuff. In all, he took a couple of dollars' worth of change.

On another day, just as he parked the car, he headed right for the money, taking a few dollars worth of quarters.

Another time, the valet went for the compartment. He opened it up, went through it and then stole more money.

He then tried under the radio, looked through an envelope and took more quarters.

From across the parking lot, Local 2's hidden cameras found him digging through another customer's car, but the Troubleshooters could not tell if he took anything.

Every day Local 2 ran their test, valets either went through stuff or the same valet took money.

If he is doing this with every car he parks, it could add up to hundreds of dollars and hundreds of victims over time.

"Sir, I'm a reporter for Local 2 News. I need to ask you about the stuff you're taking out of the cars. We've had hidden cameras in a bunch of the cars and every time we sent it in there with you, you were taking change and going through compartments. What's going on?" Dean asked.

"Um," the valet said.

Local 2 showed the valet pictures of himself caught in the act. His name is Jose Eduardo Castro. He said that it was not him in the pictures, but would not say much else.

"Over several weeks time, you're doing it again and again, and you have nothing to say about that?" Dean said.

"Um, no," Castro said.

"Nothing at all?" Dean said.

"No, because I never take nothing," Castro said.

"You're on hidden camera. It's on videotape. We saw you take it. We counted the money. The money is gone," Dean said.

His co-worker, who looked through Local 2's car, did not have much to say, either.

"We didn't see you take anything, but I wonder what you're looking for when you're going through the different compartments. You have any business going through those compartments?" Dean said.

"No," the valet said.

Valet customers had plenty to say.

"If that's true, if these people are really stealing money out of cars, then they should be prosecuted like everyone else. It's even more egregious if they're working under the auspices of the government," said Kent Schaffer, a criminal defense attorney.

"I think it's disgusting. I think the whole incident down here is disgusting. And I plan on doing something about it," Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack said.

Local 2 showed Radack what the Troubleshooters caught on tape. He said county commissioners did not vote on the trial valet service, but county managers set it up.

He immediately made calls to Ampco, the parking company running the valets and to the county managers.

Within minutes, the trial valet service was shut down.

"We're not going to tolerate it. This company is not controlling its employees," Radack said. "There's a big difference in a valet service, and having thieves parking cars."

The commissioners also called Precinct 1 constables. After deputies looked at the Troubleshooters' video, they filed charges.

Castro was handcuffed and arrested on three counts of theft.

He pleaded no contest to the theft charges, and spent two days in jail for the conviction.

Ampco System Parking Releases Statement

Dan Huberty, regional vice president at Ampco System Parking, released the following statement to Local 2.

"Last week, there was an incident involving the removal of customers’ personal property by an employee at our valet operation for the Harris County Courthouse in Houston, Texas.

"We regret this incident. We consider issues regarding security of our customers’ personal property to be very serious, and we work to prevent incidents like these through rigorous pre-employment background checks and training programs, as well as strict policies and procedures in this regard.

"Consistent with our zero-tolerance policy, in this case, we immediately conducted an investigation and, based on our findings, terminated the employee.

"This type of violation is very rare among our valet employees, in part due to our careful background check and training program for new hires. Prior to employment, every single prospective employee is subjected to a rigorous review, including: criminal background check; drug screening; and motor vehicle record check. If a prospective employee passes the background check, they then undergo a training program in areas such as valet driving, customer service, safety and professionalism.

"Subsequently, every valet operation is audited for ticket documentation, cash handling (if applicable), claim check procedures, safety and efficiency -- by both Ampco personnel and "secret shoppers." If we become aware of any violation of our policies or procedures, we commence an investigation. Punishment is swift and appropriate. Any employee involved may be reprimanded, terminated and/or prosecuted.

"Since the inception of the valet service trial operation at the County Courthouse in January, we have parked more than 2,000 vehicles, and this is the first complaint we’ve received. The service has successfully alleviated traffic congestion around the courthouse.

"We are pleased to serve Harris County. This incident is unrepresentative of our company and the men and women who work at Ampco. We are committed to serving the people of Harris County with a high level of professionalism and customer service."