WFAA-TV

Investigators examined vehicles during the raid.

HALTOM CITY — Investigators from several agencies swooped down on a North Texas auto-body shop Monday, looking for evidence of fraud.

Police say it's the kind of crime that costs insurance companies millions of dollars and causes our rates to rise.

The allegation is that Collision Masters in Haltom City charged for new parts but did not put new parts on cars.

The owner believes he is just being harassed by police who are responding to unhappy customers.

Three customers filed complaints that lead to an undercover investigation.

Members of The Department of Public Safety Motor Vehicle Theft Service, Fort Worth Police, Haltom City Police and Auto Crimes Task Force raided the business Monday looking for paperwork showing the shop defrauded customers or insurance companies.

"We feel there's a lot more that could be involved that we'll find through search warrant and investigation," said Jesse Minton, Tarrant Regional Auto Theft Unit. "It always has to start somewhere."

Fort Worth officers also raided the home of the man who runs the business.

""We feel like it's insurance companies getting the police to try to harass us because we save people money on their deductible," said Michael LeBlanc of Collision Masters. He said he does not promise new parts and he has not ripped off anyone.

"Our contract gives us the right to repair a car however we so fit, choose," said LeBlanc.

LeBlanc admitted numerous customers complained to Haltom City police that it took too long to repair their cars.

Police sent him letter ordering him to return one person's vehicle.

"Officers have tried to say, 'you can't keep the car," said LeBlanc. "We tell the officer, 'yes, we can. We have a contract.'"

LeBlanc sued another police department for arresting him after he repossessed a customer's car.

He said he'll sue Haltom City, too, because all this police activity is bound to put a major dent in business.

E-mail jdouglas@wfaa.com