An elderly Oakland car enthusiast’s treasured antique vehicle was stolen from his home in broad daylight amid the city’s crime problem, comparing the theft to a “stab in the heart.”
Dave Lechthaler said thieves broke into his garage and made off with his bright red 1959 Chevrolet Corvette on April 15, just a month before he turned 80 years old, according to KTVU.
“They knew how to drive the car because it was a stick and they just drove right out,” Lechthaler said.
Surveillance video obtained by the outlet showed two suspects approaching Lechthaler’s home around 7 a.m.
One thief shimmied his way into the garage while the other crook propped open the door, closed it, and kept watch outside.
About three minutes later, the thief outside opens the garage door again and takes off, as the carjacker inside pulls out — making off with Lechthaler’s $200,000 pride and joy.
“It’s like a stab in the heart,” Lechthaler said.
Lechthaler, a racer, told the outlet he spent countless hours restoring the Corvette to “factory perfect” since buying it back in 2006.
In that time, the 80-year-old has rebuilt the car’s engine, reupholstering its seat and slapping a fresh coat of cherry red on the beloved vehicle.
“It hurts because it’s my life,” he said. “My whole life has been hot rod cars since I was 14 years old.”
He suspected the thieves had tailed him from a car show in Pleasanton — about 30 miles from his home in Oakland.
Lechthaler fears that the two suspects responsible for jacking his favorite ride will never be brought to justice, as crime continues to rise in the West Coast city, seemingly unchecked in some cases.
“There are no consequences in this city. People can steal and rob,” said Lechthaler.
Vehicle thefts in Oaktown have steadily been on the rise since 2020, according to Oakland Police Department’s crime statistics.
There were 8,700 reported motor vehicle thefts in 2020 versus around 14,700 reported in 2023.
Since the start of 2024, there have been more than 3,500 motor vehicle thefts, according to statistics released on April 15 — the same day Lechthaler had his prized Corvette stolen.
Lechthaler pleaded to the public for help finding the Corvette, asking for anyone who sees his stolen ride to call the police.
“I want my car back,” he said.
