Drivers nationwide fear that they may become victims of car theft, as it’s one of the most widespread crimes. Most instances of it don’t lead to the vehicle owner being hurt, but this isn’t outside the realm of possibility. This happened recently in Ohio, and it left one woman with a broken arm and lasting pain.

Car theft is a serious crime that impacts more than the direct victims 

According to WBNS 10, Rebecca Sanders recently inflated her tires at a Sheetz gas station in Columbus, Ohio. As everyone knows, this is a quick piece of automotive maintenance, and drivers are usually back inside their cars within minutes. However, Rebecca unfortunately became a victim of car theft while seeing that her tires were properly inflated. 

She says a man jumped into her car and started driving off during that time. However, she didn’t want the car theft perpetrator to get away with her items. Rebecca said, “I instinctively tried to open the door, at least to try to grab my purse. It had my keys. When I did, it threw me to the ground. Rolled several times and ended up breaking my arm.”

Following the instance of car theft, Rebecca had pretty severe injuries that required extensive surgery. According to her, “Surgery with plates and screws for the rest of my life.” Now, ten days later, police officers spotted her stolen car and then chased down two people, Ricco Stokes and Dymon Byrd, who were in it. The victim said of them being arrested, “I was just like, I cannot believe that this is even a real situation that is happening. Seeing Dymon with my purse still on her was a very violating feeling.”

The police in the area are currently issuing warnings to residents about instances of car theft at gas stations. They say drivers should always be aware of their surroundings, regardless of whether they’re getting gas or inflating tires. They also advise never leaving valuables on passenger seats, even if the doors are locked.