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Thief breaks into woman's home as she sleeps, steals car then crashes it

Police found her car shortly after about five miles away. It looked nothing like the car she parked right in front of her house.

ST. LOUIS — A woman's car was left unrecognizable after it was stolen right in front of her house.

The worst part about it? The suspect was inside her home as she slept.

"I need to be surrounded by people who will tell me there's still good in the world, that this is just an isolated jerk," said Karen Strombach.

It's been two days since Karen Strombach's sense of security was stolen.

"I'm afraid to tell my children," she said, "I'm afraid to tell my family that doesn't live close by because they'll want me to move."

Around 5 a.m. Monday, someone entered her home along South Spring Street in St. Louis, uninvited.

"I was sleeping and I can not believe that I didn't wake up," she said. "I did hear some scratching but I thought it was the cat." 

After rummaging through her home, the guy got away with her Ipad, wallet, jewelry, and her car.

"I'm frustrated with myself because I feel like I'm very naïve and I should've done X, Y, Z, the should've, could've, would'ves."

Police found her car a short time later about five miles away. It looked nothing like the car she parked right in front of her house. 

"The wheels were literally gone on the whole right side of the car and the wheels were literally gone on the right side of the car and they were laying sideways. You're like, 'It's just a miracle, he could've walked away.'"

Before he crashed, Karen said he stopped at a few stores, swiping her credit cards.

"I have his lottery tickets and I'm hoping they'll score," she said with a laugh.

It's a sense of humor she's using to get through sleepless nights and tear-stained eyes.

Because after all, she picked her home for a reason.

"I don't feel like I should run away that I should pack up and leave for one bad person because if every time something happens and people move away that doesn't improve the problem. That just means the bad people win," Strombach said.

A GoFundMe page has been started to help Karen get back on her feet and get a security system installed.

Police are still searching for the guy who did this. Anyone with information should give them a call.

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