A criminal offense reporter for Cleveland.com who’d reported on rampant Kia thefts had her personal 2020 Kia Forte stolen simply earlier than the New Year.
Molly Walsh lined the hardships folks confronted when the Kia Boyz spree of automobile thefts got here to Cleveland. The Korean automaker started distributing a free ignition cylinder protector (together with window decals) final month that it hopes will lastly finish the persistent thefts and function a deterrent in opposition to potential break-ins.
Walsh wasn’t so lucky and located shattered glass within the spot the place she had parked her Kia. She recounts her first-hand expertise of getting her automobile stolen on the web site:
My automobile was stolen in Ohio City on Dec. 30, a mere 10 yards from the place I used to be sitting in my buddy’s lounge whereas we gossiped and laughed concerning the trials and tribulations we had confronted in 2023. Add this to my record. And add me to the record of a whole bunch of individuals in Cuyahoga County who had their vehicles stolen final yr.
I’m able to chortle on the irony: The crime reporter who lined the Kia Boyz had her Kia stolen. But the jokes are only a mechanism to deal with the battle that I, and hundreds of individuals nationwide, should combat by means of.
The theft made Walsh much more conscious of how damaging a stolen car could be to somebody’s life. A automobile is often somebody’s solely dependable type of transportation within the United States to earn a residing or buy requirements. Walsh talked about how a lot of a monetary burden it was to purchase her Kia and repay the mortgage wanted to make the acquisition. The police did ultimately discover the Forte, but it surely wasn’t in nice situation:
Fortunately, police discovered my automobile 4 days later, on Thursday. I gained’t be driving my automobile for weeks, because it suffered heavy injury, however I’ve to maintain making funds.
Cars are often being stolen from hard-working folks in Cuyahoga County who’re simply attempting to do their finest. I misplaced my automobile however have discovered a higher sense of empathy for the victims I converse with often.
Along with telling her personal story, Walsh doesn’t hesitate all the folks she has spoken with whereas protecting the Kia Boyz disaster who haven’t been as lucky. Be positive to learn this piece and others about particular Kia Boyz thefts at Cleveland.com.
Source: jalopnik.com