A South Florida woman received a life-changing surprise when her car was stolen. The suspected car thief then led police on a chase that ended in a crash in Miami Beach.
Glenda Defas was parked her SUV in Miami earlier this month when a man asked her for money. When she told the man she didn’t have any money, he approached her with a hammer and threatened her, she said.
Defas walked away, but moments later the man got into her SUV and sped away. Her brother, who is disabled and deaf, was in the vehicle but got out when the man got in.
The following day, her SUV – which had taken her seven years to pay off – was totaled after a police chase in Miami Beach ended in an accident and the suspected car thief, identified as Savalas Cigar, ended up behind bars.
Weeks later, on Saturday morning, Defas got the surprise of her life after Rita Case – CEO of Rick Case Automotive – saw her story on NBC6.
“It was all over the news, NBC6 covered it really well. I heard the story and I thought, man, you know, I have a lot of cars – here, let me help this family,” Case said. “Knowing that her brother was in the car disabled and deaf, that she was attacked with a hammer, just all the trauma. I had to help.”
The Rick Case Automotive Group subsequently gifted Defas a free 2020 Honda Passport.
Defas told NBC6 she feels like all her prayers have been answered.
“I feel like Jesus has listened to me and sent me angels – angels to rescue me from my tragedy,” said Defas. “I’m in shock, it feels like this is a dream. I don’t want to wake up.”
Meanwhile, Cigar is accused of grand theft and fleeing from the police.
