Virginia Army Veteran’s Dream Corvette Stolen, Vandalized With $20K in Damage

A Virginia Army veteran’s prized 2017 C7 Corvette was stolen from his apartment complex, vandalized beyond recognition, and dumped in a Richmond neighborhood. Now, he faces $20,000 in repairs that his insurance won’t cover, and the suspects are still on the loose.

How Keith Kunze Lost His Dream Car Overnight

Keith Kunze, a Henrico County resident and U.S. Army veteran, bought his black 2017 Corvette as a birthday gift to himself after returning from service in Afghanistan. For years, Kunze held onto one goal: getting his Corvette back. He had owned one before, but deployments, kids, and life forced him to trade horsepower for practicality. After returning from Afghanistan, he finally gave himself permission to chase that dream again.1

The car was everything he wanted. Black exterior. Black interior. Black wheels. A manual transmission with a removable roof.

On October 19, 2025, the car was almost unrecognizable after a turn of events. That is when Kunze walked out of his Glen Allen apartment complex and couldn’t find his car.2

He didn’t panic right away. “I was sure it was somewhere in here. So I just started kind of doing loops in the community, like, oh, I must have parked it in a weird spot,” Kunze said.2 But the loops came up empty. His Corvette was gone.

stolen 2017 Corvette vandalized spray paint egg damage Virginia

Stolen Corvette Found Trashed in Scott’s Addition

According to the Henrico County Police Division, the car was stolen from the 4000 block of Gaelic Lane. That same day, the Richmond Police Department told Henrico Police the vehicle was found in Scott’s Addition along the 3100 block of W. Marshall St.2

What Kunze saw when he arrived was devastating. The Corvette had been egged, spray painted, and stripped. The roof was missing. The headlights and tires were damaged. The interior had been trashed.1

The words “get back” were spray painted on the door, a phrase sometimes associated with illegal street takeover events.3

“I’m still having a hard time, like, wrapping my head around it because it’s so much damage,” Kunze said.2

Nearby surveillance video captured two masked individuals walking away from the abandoned car.1 Detectives are looking into whether the car was used to commit other crimes.2

Yet among all the destruction, one small piece survived untouched. A handmade plaque given to Kunze by a fellow soldier while he was deployed in Afghanistan. “That’s the one thing I still have,” Kunze said. “One of the guys I worked with made it for me.”4

$20,000 in Repairs and an Insurance Gap

Here is where the financial nightmare begins.

For more than three months, the car has been covered by a tarp while Kunze tries to make repairs. He said repairs that would cost him roughly $20,000 are not covered by his insurance.2

This is a painful reality many car owners don’t think about until it’s too late. Standard comprehensive coverage does handle theft, but there’s a catch. If you recover the car, insurance may cover any vandalism. But there’s a limit on how much customization will be covered, especially if you don’t have custom parts and equipment (CPE) coverage. At Progressive, for example, comprehensive coverage insures up to $1,000 in repairs and custom parts.5 Anything beyond that typically requires CPE coverage.

Drivers need to know that bare-bones liability-only car insurance won’t cover theft. Instead, drivers should consider full-coverage car insurance, which would generally pay for the vehicle’s cash value minus the deductible if someone steals it.6

Key Takeaway: If you own a modified or high-value vehicle, review your insurance policy today. Ask your provider about CPE coverage and whether your current plan covers the full cost of repairs after vandalism.

Car Theft in America Is Declining, But Still Dangerous

Kunze’s story stands in contrast to a broader national trend. Vehicle thefts in the United States fell 23% during the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).7

In 2024, 850,708 vehicles were reported stolen in the U.S., down from 1,020,729 in 2023.8 That still means a motor vehicle was stolen every 37 seconds in the United States in 2024.9

The Corvette has long been a magnet for thieves. Since the Corvette hit the market in 1953, over 90,000 models have been stolen according to the NICB. That number is six percent of the total 1,526,747 Corvettes built since its inception.10

Even with falling theft numbers nationally, nearly forty vehicles were broken into in Henrico County in a single morning in March 2026, with nearly all vehicles’ windows smashed and many items stolen, police said.11 Crime clearly hasn’t disappeared from Kunze’s backyard.

How to Protect Your Car From Theft Right Now

Experts and law enforcement agencies recommend a layered approach to vehicle security. Here are the most effective steps, based on guidance from the NICB and NHTSA:

• Park in well-lit areas. Increased visibility deters thieves, so always park in a well-lit parking lot or spot near a streetlight.12
• Lock your doors every time. Some criminals walk through parking lots testing handles to choose which vehicle they take.12
• Use anti-theft technology. Steering wheel locks, audible alarms, kill switches, or aftermarket GPS tracking like AirTags deter thieves from targeting your car and make it easier to find if they do take it.13
• Install a GPS tracker. Vehicles equipped with a GPS tracking device have a 90% recovery rate.14
• Etch your VIN into windows. It is a cheap deterrent with high impact.15
• Review your insurance policy. Make sure you have comprehensive coverage and ask about CPE coverage if you’ve made modifications.

In surveys, over 70% of convicted car thieves said they would avoid a car with any visible anti-theft device.15 A $30 steering wheel lock could be the difference between keeping your car and losing it.

Five months after the theft, Henrico Police say the case remains open.1 The two masked suspects captured on surveillance footage have not been identified or arrested. Anyone with additional details can contact Henrico Police at 804-501-4800.2

Keith Kunze’s story is more than just another car theft headline. It is a reminder that the things we work hardest for can be taken in an instant. He served his country, came home, and bought the one thing that made him feel like he earned something for himself. For now, Kunze keeps the Corvette close, under a tarp to hide the damage. It is still his dream car, just one he is fighting to restore all over again.1 If you know anything about this case, please reach out to Henrico Police. And if this story hit close to home, drop a comment below and share what you do to keep your car safe.