CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) — A Chula Vista nurse's heart sank when she discovered her car ransacked and her medical bag gone.
After a long week working as a home health care nurse inside patient's homes, Joyce Bell spent a well-deserved Easter weekend off inside her home on Calistoga Avenue. On Sunday, when her son cut his finger, she ran out to her Chevy crossover and opened up the back.
"I felt violated. This is a crisis time, and they took all my medical equipment," said Bell, whose worked as a nurse for nearly four decades.
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Her medical bag was gone, taken sometime the night before. It's not clear if the doors were locked. Inside the bag was all the equipment needed to treat her patients and protect herself. While a tote bag with some cloth surgical masks wasn't touched, the bag with her main protective gear was taken.
"Two N95 masks, both my gowns, my booties, gloves and several bottles of hand sanitizer. I feel hurt. If they really needed it, they could have knocked on my door. I would have been glad to give them something, or take care of them," said Bell.
Bell's hurt was deepened by another item stolen, something she removed for hygiene purposes.
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"Can't wear my rings into patients' houses right now. I took them off and tucked then inside into the door," said Bell.
In the compartment next to the door were two silver rings given to her by her six children. One of the rings contained their birthstones," said Bell.
"Just a lot of memories. I've had it a long time," said Bell.
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The company Bell works for did replace her bag. As for her rings, inscribed on one of the silver rings are the words "Love, Dream and Believe."
Anyone with information is asked to call Chula Vista Police at 619-422-8477.
