YOUNGSTOWN - For months now, 21 News has been reporting on a surge of Kia and Hyundai thefts around the country and in the Valley.  Now it's hitting hard for one Youngstown man who had his Kia stolen with his mobility scooter inside

Early Monday morning on Sept 4. Darrell Larocque discovered his 2022 black Kia Sportage missing from his driveway on Champlain Avenue in Youngstown. To make matters worse, he said his mobility scooter, which he relies on to get around, was stored in the back of the car and now both are gone.

"It's incredibly frustrating that somebody would just come along and be callus enough to steal my vehicle knowing I am a disabled veteran," Larocque told 21 News reporter Leslie Huff.

Larocque was in the navy for 20 years. He said he can stand for only short periods of time because of back and respiratory issues. Without the scooter, he has to reschedule his medical appointments while waiting for a rental car.

"Anytime I need to go out [and it's] something that requires a lot of walking, having that mobility scooter is a life saver," Larocque said.

The veteran told police that he had locked his car door at 11:30 pm after returning home from the Canfield Fair on Sunday. In the police report officer said they did not find any broken glass in his driveway.

Lorocque said he has been calling pawn shops around the Valley in hopes of finding the scooter. He now has a GoFundMe page to help replace what was stolen from him.