By SUZANNE DOWNING
Aug. 10, 2026 – For years, Floyd Hall has answered the call when Anchorage residents discovered their cars, trucks or trailers had been stolen. He has recovered over 1,000 stolen vehicles in Anchorage.
Now, friends are asking Anchorage to answer the call for him.
Anchorage Realtor Brandy Pennington has organized a GoFundMe campaign to help Hall purchase a modest townhome following the death of his father, for whom Hall had served as a full-time caregiver.
“Hey, Anchorage, give back to the man who has given so much,” Pennington wrote. “For years, when someone’s vehicle was stolen in Anchorage, there was one name that brought hope: Floyd Hall.”
Hall became an Anchorage folk hero during the city’s auto-theft epidemic beginning around 2017, a time that was worsened by Senate Bill 91, the catch-and-release legislation signed by Gov. Bill Walker.
Working with a small circle of volunteers known as the A-Team and a much larger network of residents sharing information through Facebook, Hall developed a remarkable ability to locate stolen vehicles. It became his super power.
He followed tips, memorized identifying features and checked places where thieves commonly abandoned or dismantled vehicles. When the team found one, members generally watched it from a safe distance, contacted the Anchorage Police Department and helped reunite the vehicle with its owner.
By 2019, Hall and the A-Team had reportedly recovered or helped recover more than 500 stolen vehicles. The effort was never a business. Hall worked operating heavy equipment and driving snow-removal and sanding trucks while donating untold hours—and plenty of his own gasoline—to help strangers.
For many victims, the loss was about far more than a vehicle. A stolen car could mean no way to get to work, take children to school or attend medical appointments. Vehicles were often returned damaged and filled with drug paraphernalia or other property left behind by thieves.
Hall’s work sometimes placed him in danger. He was shot at while tracking stolen vehicles and became embroiled in a lengthy criminal case after police accused him of reckless driving during a 2017 incident. Hall maintained that he was following the stolen truck, not chasing it. He eventually accepted a plea agreement in 2019 that imposed temporary restrictions on following or moving stolen vehicles.
Police officials warned at the time that private citizens tracking suspected thieves could create risks for themselves and the public. Hall, however, consistently said his purpose was to assist police, not replace them.
“We try not to confront anybody,” Hall told Alaska Public Media in 2017. “It’s about getting the vehicles back. Let the cops confront the people.” Hall now has over 19,000 followers on Facebook, evidence of his strong community support.
Even while helping others, Hall was caring for his aging parent. He devoted himself fully to caring for his father through the final chapter of his life.
“Being a full-time caregiver is one of the greatest acts of love a person can give, and Floyd gave that gift without hesitation,” she wrote. “Now, after his father’s passing, Floyd finds himself facing a challenge of his own. It’s our turn to help him.”
The campaign’s stated long-term aim is to raise $300,000 toward a safe and stable home for Hall. As of Monday, the GoFundMe page showed $3,240 raised from 31 donations; its current fundraising meter displayed an interim goal of $28,000.
“This isn’t just about buying him a home,” Pennington wrote. “It’s about showing gratitude. It’s about giving back to a man who has spent years giving to complete strangers without asking for anything in return.”
Pennington said Hall has saved insurance companies untold dollars and has made Anchorage safer as the result of thieves being caught and brought to justice.
Hall said the most important recovery he made happened at Sand Lake a few years ago, where a vehicle with two passed out adults was discovered by Hall’s A Team. They called the cops, and it turned out there was a child in that vehicle. That child is now 7 years old, and Hall thinks of him often — a life saved was even more important than all the vehicles recovered.
Those who remember Hall’s work, who were benefited by his tireless efforts, or who simply want to recognize years of quiet community service, may donate or share the “Thank You, Floyd: Help Us Give Back” fundraiser.
“Let’s show Floyd Hall what a grateful Alaska community can do when we come together,” Pennington wrote. “Together, we can help give this hometown hero a place to call home.”
