Behind the Scenes
Lou Pizarro
"I'm originally from the Bronx, but was raised in California in my beautiful San Fernando Valley. I worked two jobs most of my life; I was a Marine and continue to support our military. I'm a good guy who loves pinball and sushi."
Q: What are three things you always bring to a repo?
A: A good attitude, a superior state of mind and pepper spray.
Q: While on the job, is each repo a hassle, or does anyone ever simply say to you, "Sure, no problem take the car. Be my guest?"
A: Eighty percent of the repos are normal. People just give up the keys and say "Thanks. I couldn't afford it anymore." Ten percent get very upset and swear it's a mistake. And the last 10% get violent.
Q: What was the funniest thing you remember happening on the job?
A: A couple arguing about who forgot to send the payment.
Q: What about the scariest thing?
A: I had just hooked up to a car, and the owner's boyfriend came out with five of his gangbanger friends, all with guns. One pointed a shotgun at my head, and another had a semi-auto in my face. One of the guys took my keys and tried to disconnect the car from the tow truck. I started yelling to put the guns away. I left and jumped in another car I had stashed at the end of the street and went to the police station and told the cops what happened. We went back to the scene with half the station. Everyone was still there because they couldn't disconnect the car, and pretty soon they were all on the ground with police weapons pointed in their faces.
Q: Who was the angriest person?
A: It had to be a six-foot-tall redheaded woman in Marina del Rey. She complied, at first, because I had the key to the car. But then after I got behind the wheel, she changed her mind and jumped onto my lap and started slapping me. I was trying to take off, but as I hit the gas she would step on the brake. I just turned the car off, ran down the alley and called the cops.
Q: What is the best thing about your job?
A: All the different people I get to meet: good or bad, happy or mad. And all the different cars I get to see.
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: In 1994 I moved to Florida and met a guy at a gas station who did repo. He asked me if I wanted a job, and I started working for him that night.
