BARBERTON, Ohio — A woman's Jeep Cherokee was damaged after a vandal spray-painted a swastika and obscenities all over it, and now an auto body shop is repairing the damage for free.
Sarah Blouir's Jeep was vandalized Monday. In addition to the spray paint, the vandal smashed the windshield and the front passenger window.
Just after 12 a.m., Blouir's 22-year-old stepson heard glass shattering outside the family's home on East Huston Street. He ran out to investigate, but the vandal had already run off.
Blouir then went outside and couldn't believe what she saw.
"I was stunned at what happened," Blouir said.
Blouir bought the Jeep earlier this year with her tax return and had planned to fix it up. Blouir said she works in a restaurant and it had taken months to save up enough money to fix some of the issues it had. But after walking outside and seeing the Jeep, she was overwhelmed.
Earlier in the day, Blouir had received some good news: she found out that she was pregnant. But now, her earlier joy was ripped away when she saw her only vehicle smashed and covered with vulgarities. Not only were racial slurs painted on the Jeep, but a threat was as well. In bold red letters the word "die" was emblazoned on the side.
Blouir has lived at her address for years and said that this is the first time something like this has happened there. Police haven't announced any suspects, but Blouir thinks it's someone familiar with the neighborhood.
Blouir takes the phrase "see something, say something" seriously. She posted on Facebook what happened and the outrage and violation she felt. That caught the attention of Mike Cowans of Big Mike's Automotive.
"Sometimes in life things happen that you have no control over. It sucks but it’s life," shop owner Mike Cowans said on Facebook. "I’m sorry this happened to you, but just know that you didn’t deserve this!"
The shop posted photos of the Jeep marred with graffiti as well as photos of the vehicle after the paint was removed.
"We got all the paint off and tomorrow the new windshield is going in! As I told you. There will be no charge for any of this," the shop stated on Monday's Facebook post.
Nice job Mike!
