In a turn of events that feels more like holiday hardship than seasonal cheer, a Phoenix single mother and her children are facing a difficult Christmas. Elizabeth Vasquez said her gray 2016 Hyundai Sonata, which had been parked in her driveway and filled with Christmas gifts for her two sons, was stolen. The loss included presents such as a bicycle for her younger child, along with books and several other toys, according to the news reported by Yahoo News.
As a family already clinging to the edge of austerity, the loss represents more than mere transportation—it signifies a fracture in their festive spirit. The Vasquez family awoke to this grim discovery when her son went to start the car on a presumably routine Friday morning. Instead of the familiar purr of an engine, he found only absence, an orange and black scooter discarded in the car's stead. "I just started breaking down right away and thinking, you know, somebody stole it. And right away, I just called the police," Vasquez said to FOX 10 Phoenix.
While Phoenix Police have taken up the investigation, the sting of the theft extends far beyond the tangible. In a conversation with FOX 10 Phoenix, the family grappled with the notion of explaining to young minds the cruelty of such an act, especially during a season synonymous with giving. "They just kept saying, 'Where's our car?' And 'it was a stranger that took it,'" Vasquez recounted.
Vasquez's hope is thin but persistent. She wishes for the return of the car, expressing to FOX 10 Phoenix, "It don't matter if it's just the side of the road in the middle of the road. I don't care at this point. I just. We just really need our car back." In the spirit of community and holiday giving, a GoFundMe has been set up to help the Vasquez family recover from the setback and replace the stolen goods and vehicle.
