(Thechieftainspear) – A Southern California teacher is seeking assistance after a homeless man allegedly stole her car from the valet stand at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, where she was visiting her critically ill husband.
The incident happened late on May 12, when Brittney Mickles-McQuirter, a Montessori school teacher, arrived at the hospital around 11:45 p.m. to visit her husband, Joe McQuirter, who is battling a severe form of liver cancer in the ICU.
Brittney said she entrusted her 2025 Honda CR-V to the hospital’s valet service before heading inside. But just a few hours later, around 2 a.m., she was informed by valet staff that a man, described as homeless and riding a bicycle, had managed to steal her keys from behind the valet desk.
Using the key fob, the man reportedly found her SUV in the hospital’s parking area and drove off. The theft was reported to the UCLA Medical Center Police, though Brittney says officials have not permitted her to view surveillance footage of the incident.
She was given a rental car for five days but is responsible for covering the insurance costs herself.
Brittney and her family have been tracking her stolen car using an Apple AirTag attached to her keychain. The tracker has led them to several locations, but the vehicle hasn’t been recovered.
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The couple, who married in October 2024, have been enduring an already difficult time as Joe has remained hospitalized since April 18 due to complications from cancer treatment. The loss of their only vehicle has added another layer of hardship for Brittney, who now has no reliable transportation to commute to work or to be at her husband’s side.
“I’m just heartbroken,” she shared. “There are important documents in that car, and this is more time I’m spending away from my husband when I should be with him. I trusted that my car would be there when I got back.”
UCLA Health released a statement to KTLA saying, “We apologize for this unfortunate incident. A police report was filed and our insurance carrier is investigating.”
Despite KTLA’s request, hospital officials have not released the surveillance video of the theft.
Loved ones have launched a GoFundMe page to assist Brittney and Joe with their ongoing medical costs and the replacement of their stolen vehicle.