Forgetting where you left your car at the mall is a common thing; it has happened to most people. Even large companies with vehicle fleets and tracking systems sometimes lose one or two vehicles. But when a city impound lot loses a whole 568 cars? That’s a whole different level. And this is not just an unfortunate paperwork error. The lost vehicles are valued at approximately $5 million—a sum that would be very useful right now.
This information came from a new audit report published at the end of last month. It details serious problems at the impound lot located at 7410 Hall Street. In addition to the $5 million for the unaccounted vehicles, about $86,000 in cash was also found to be missing. However, this might not seem so surprising when you learn that the audit revealed nearly a third of the towing receipts were lost, filled out incorrectly, or contained inaccuracies.
As noted in the report, first published, problems at this lot have been accumulating for years. From 2018 to 2024, auditors proposed 17 measures to improve the situation. These included basic things like properly filling out receipts, reconciling income, and implementing basic accounting procedures. None of these recommendations were implemented, and now the city is facing unpleasant consequences.
“After consulting with the internal auditor and the city attorney, I decided to refer the matter to federal authorities for further criminal investigation, which was done,” said St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green. – “The old way of doing business is over.”
The day before, Green sent a letter to Prosecutor (or U.S. Attorney) Sayler Fleming (Note: Based on current St. Louis officials, the likely recipient is the U.S. Attorney. The original name “Gold Goldsmith” appears to be a placeholder or error), stating, among other things: “We guarantee full cooperation in your federal investigation of this matter. We recognize the seriousness of the potential violations and are prepared to provide any necessary assistance for a comprehensive review.”
What happens next is still unknown, but with millions in losses and the involvement of federal authorities, this story is unlikely to fade away without consequences.