Kitty's Car Wash on Lem Turner Road has been hit three times in less than a month, leaving its lobby torn apart, rental cars damaged and its owner openly wondering how long the business can hang on.
Owner Nakita Watley says thieves kicked through a back wall, ripped steering columns out of rental vehicles and left glass and debris scattered across the floor. The mounting damage, she said, is already running into the thousands and threatening the future of the northwest Jacksonville shop.
Owner's Account
Watley told News4JAX the break-ins happened on May 3, May 16 and last Wednesday. Rental vehicles kept on the lot, including a red Hyundai and a black Kia Optima, were broken into multiple times.
She estimated about $2,500 in repair costs so far, not including lost rental revenue or the impact of downtime on employees.
"They break here, and then they go for the steering column," Watley said, describing how thieves have zeroed in on car parts and rental vehicles. "If things don't change within the coming months, that might mean at the end of our lease, we might have to close down," she told News4JAX.
Crime Map Shows Multiple Incidents
A review of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office calls-for-service feed shows several thefts, motor-vehicle-theft reports and at least two burglaries along the Lem Turner corridor in the last month. Police reports for the car wash incidents were listed as pending.
The JSO feed is kept current and lists dispatched calls across District 6, highlighting a run of property crime that local business owners say is steadily eroding confidence.
Neighborhood Context
The Lem Turner corridor has drawn extra law-enforcement attention in recent months. Coverage of a large April raid on a smoke shop in the same stretch detailed arrests and a multi-pound narcotics seizure. Business owners and neighbors say both the high-profile enforcement actions and repeated thefts have left many on edge and worried about long-term safety for small operations.
If you have information about the break-ins at Kitty's Car Wash, the sheriff’s office asks residents to call 904-630-0500 or email [email protected]. Anonymous tips can also go to First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. JSO's public calls-for-service page lists the most recent dispatched reports and can be reviewed online for incidents in the area.
Watley said she is hoping stepped-up patrols and help from neighbors will stop the damage before the shop is forced to shutter. But she warned that small businesses operate on thin margins, and repeated thefts can quickly tip a local shop into permanent closure. For now, Kitty's Car Wash remains open while the owner weighs repairs and future options.
