Third time was the charm

I’m still here. Somehow, I’m still in good spirits and somehow I’m still sharing my toxic positivity with everyone that crosses my path.

I amaze myself sometimes because considering the fact that I survived being shot at while driving, went through a divorce, lost my mom to ALS, my father-in-law to cancer, my cat nearly dying (twice), my company nearly going out of business because of an unfair ordinance, along many other low blows, I’m still here, waking up motivated and with a smile on my face, although, I’m not going to lie, it has been more and more difficult to do so lately.

That was a lot huh? Sorry didn’t mean to unload that abruptly. Anyway, that is not the reason I am writing this.

In the last 10 months, my car was stolen not once, not twice but THREE times! All three instances happened at my apartment building’s parking lot. In February, while I was out of the country, I was a victim of the well-known “Kia Boyz,” which are thieves that have taken on a viral trend on TikTok where they steal Kias or Hyundais because of how easy it is. They simply do it for fun, for a joy ride and for likes, of course.

Thankfully, my car was found hours later, abandoned in a parking lot not far away, still on and with a ripped-off ignition and a busted window, but drivable. I was able to retrieve it from the police right away.

Fast forward to mid-October. I come back home from a weekend in Texas to my car being stolen again. I call the Police Department and it has been towed because once again, the thieves parked it in a lot not far away and the cops thought I left it there. This time, thankfully no damage, only sunglasses, chargers and other small items are gone.

It is such a frustrating and infuriating feeling. You feel violated. Especially because you feel “safe” leaving it inside your own complex, where there are cameras. I’ll talk about those later.

This can’t happen again. Those Kia Boyz won’t do this to me again so I go buy a steering wheel lock and have to put it on every time I park my car, like I live in a dangerous country, which I do but don’t tell people that because this is the “best country in the world.”

I feel confident you know, rocking that bright yellow steering wheel lock to avoid this from happening to me ever again.

Last Wednesday, December 13th I wake up early because I need to drive a family member to an appointment. I am running a little late and I rush down to my parking lot. My car is not there. “This can’t be true right? It had the wheel lock on. Maybe I parked it somewhere different and I forgot.” The car is indeed missing. HOW!?

I did what I’ve done in the past, twice. Call and make a police report, get a case number. This time I remember something though, I left my AirPods inside my car. I can track those. My FindMy app tells me they’re being detected not too far away so I get a ride and go look for them. When I get there they are no longer there but 5 minutes away. For a whole hour I keep following the hints trying to not only find my AirPods but my car and the thieves. All of this while being on the phone with the police who is “used to this” and in no hurry to help.

I never found my car. They told me they’ll let me know if they find it. Never heard anything.

That same afternoon I noticed my AirPods haven’t moved in over two hours so my dad and I decide to go. They’re being tracked at a tire shop but wait, I can’t go confront whoever has them because what if they aren’t the thieves? What if they bought them from the thieves? Also, what if it is the thieves and this is dangerous, they are criminals after all. We decide to wait a little bit.

A young kid that works there comes out to assist a client. He is wearing them. My phone tells me those are my AirPods but I can’t do anything. The police told me they won’t do anything for a pair of earphones, especially since there is no evidence. How very frustrating.

This time is different though, my car isn’t showing up like the last couple of times.

Ten days passed and I honestly feel like I am never going to see it again. I got a call from KCPD. “Your car was found by the Missouri Highway Patrol and it was towed to the following lot…”

WHOA! They found it. I started getting excited but still a little hesitant. Elite Tow tells me it’s going to cost $645 to retrieve it. WHAT!? Why? That’s our prices, cash only. But I only have liability insurance, I can’t afford that. Oh okay, then we can give you a discount, we can bring it down to $405. I’m speechless.

I had to leave work early and have my dad meet me so he can come with me. I still need to stop by an ATM and it is rush hour, they close at 5 pm and my GPS says I’ll get there at 4:59 so I’m rushing. Finally I make it.

My car is unrecognizable. It’s been stripped. There are no mirrors, no driver or passenger seats, no tires, no ignition, no license plates, no door handles, no front windows. It’s not drivable, it is no longer worth anything.

It isn’t even worth taking it. It’s trash. So I don’t have to pay the $405 to the tow company but I do have to surrender my title so they can junk it. I’m defeated.

This time it wasn’t the Kia Boyz going on a joy ride for some TikTok likes. This time it was professionals who knew how to go through a steering wheel lock, who tore my car down to sell all the parts and abandon it at a homeless camp. I had to say goodbye to my car, a car I loved and a car that was payed off.

Going back to the cameras. After the second and now this time, I asked the ladies at my apartment building if they could share the camera footage with me so I can share with the police and they said sorry we can’t. I didn’t insist the first time cause I recovered the car and was over it. But this time, she told me: “Oh, I’m sorry this happened to you again. Unfortunately I can’t share the footage because about six months ago someone vandalized the cameras and they don’t work and I don’t want to tell people because no one wants to know the cameras don’t work.” What in the actual hell. How is this not a priority? How is this okay? I don’t know what to do or how to proceed but I need out of this lease and they need to be in trouble.

I don’t have energy left in me to keep fighting. I am just over it, over everything.

And you might wonder, well, why don’t you have full coverage insurance. The answer is short, I can’t afford it. My liability insurance policy is almost a hundred dollars a month and I simply can’t pay more because bills are so expensive y’all.

Life is hard guys but I refuse to accept I am a victim. I know there are people with problems a lot worse than mine and I don’t want to burden anyone with my defeats.

Anyway, if you made it this far, thanks for reading. I appreciate you.

Merry Christmas!