Thief tosses crutches, then drives away in woman’s car in KC

Either the crutches were a ruse, or the guy figured he didn’t need them anymore. He’d just steal a car.

That’s all Samantha Ruggles can make of the thief who brazenly took her black Nissan Altima on Sunday afternoon in Kansas City.

Ruggles had worked two fundraisers Saturday night at the Kansas City Center for Inclusion at 39th and Main streets. She was back on Sunday to drop off some things. She made the mistake of leaving the keys in the car.

But it didn’t feel unsafe. Neighbors were out. People were talking.

What was strange was that a man using crutches was walking down the middle of Main Street.

All of a sudden, the man tossed the crutches, which looked almost brand new, and jumped in Ruggles’ car and drove off.

“I caught a glimpse of my car heading east on 39th,” Ruggles said.

Ruggles posted her story on a Facebook site called Stolen KC:

“My car was stolen outside of my place of work at 39th and Main, KCMO 64111 on Sunday 12/10 at 2:45pm.

It is a 2006 Black Nissan Altima, KS Plates, Johnson County, Lic Plate # 898JPA.

The front end is dented up without a grill, dented hood and tinted windows....Any help in recover appreciated it's my only means of getting around.”

Ruggles filed a police report. And there is a bit of surveillance video. Ruggles is hopeful.

“It’s a bit of a drag,” she said. “It’s not just about a car. Well, it is, but it’s about having your personal, private space violated.

“I would have given the person a ride.”

This story was originally published December 13, 2017 at 10:21 AM with the headline "Thief tosses crutches, then drives away in woman’s car in KC."