A woman is asking for help after a homeless man stole her car from the hospital valet at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center where she was visiting her husband in the ICU.
On May 12, Brittney Mickles-McQuirter, a local teacher at a Montessori school, was visiting her husband, Joe McQuirter, who was receiving treatment for an aggressive form of liver cancer.
Brittney left her car with valet workers at the hospital around 11:45 p.m. She was later notified by valet workers that a homeless man on a bicycle had allegedly stolen her car keys from behind the valet desk around 2 a.m.
The suspect used the key fob to locate her 2025 Honda CR-V in the parking lot and drive the vehicle away. Brittney reported the theft to UCLA Medical Center police, but claimed they have not allowed her to view any surveillance video of the theft.
She was provided with a five-day car rental, for which she will have to pay insurance.
Her loved ones have been tracking the Apple AirTag she left on her car keys. They’ve followed the tracker to several locations, but were unable to find her car at each stop.
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Joe McQuirter has been hospitalized since April 18. He is battling an aggressive form of liver cancer at the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center. (GoFundMe) -
The couple’s 2025 dark blue Honda CR-V hybrid SUV was stolen by a homeless man from the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center’s valet parking lot on May 12, 2025. (Mickles-McQuirter Family) -
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center in Santa Monica, California. (KTLA) -
Brittney Mickles-McQuirter and her husband, Joe McQuirter are seen in a family photo. -
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center in Santa Monica, California. (KTLA)
Brittney and Joe got married in October 2024. Since Joe was admitted to the hospital on April 18, he has remained hospitalized and has experienced setbacks and complications.
She feels beyond stressed and heartbroken that the only vehicle the couple owns is now gone, along with important documents she left inside.
“This is just more time that I’m away from the bedside of my husband,” Brittney said. “Right now, I want to spend as much time as I can with him, so it’s frustrating. I gave them my key, expecting my car to be there when I got back.”
Brittney is now left without transportation to get to work or visit Joe in the hospital.
UCLA Health officials provided KTLA with a statement saying, “We apologize for this unfortunate incident. A police report was filed and our insurance carrier is investigating.”
A GoFundMe page to help Brittney and Joe with medical expenses and replacing their stolen car can be found here.
KTLA requested surveillance video of the incident, but hospital officials did not release the footage.
