Thief in LA stealing wheelchairs

From KTLA-TV:

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating a stolen wheelchair, wheelchair parts and the thief or thieves that took them.

The stolen wheelchair belongs to a young woman with cerebral palsy who is completely immobile without a wheelchair.

The wheelchair parts belong to a different victim who is paralyzed.Police say on Nov. 22, 2008, a vehicle containing a custom-made wheelchair for the cerebral palsy patient was stolen. The vehicle belonged to the mother of the patient. Detectives did recover the vehicle in central Los Angeles three days later, but the wheelchair, which is crucial to the mobility of the patient, was missing.

On Nov. 29, 2008, a second victim’s vehicle containing spare wheelchair wheels and tires was stolen. Detectives also located that victim’s vehicle in central Los Angeles and again discovered that the wheelchair accessories had been removed.

The victim, who was paralyzed when a robbery suspect shot him during an attempt to steal his vehicle, needs the use of his wheelchair on a daily basis. As a result, his tires wear out often and require replacement.

Insurance will not cover the loss of the victims' stolen property and neither victim can afford to replace the loss.