Thieves take wheelchair lift meant for child with cerebral palsy

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Scrap metal thieves took a metal wheelchair lift like the one pictured from WheelchairHelp.org in Elkhart over Easter weekend. The lift was supposed to go to a local family with a child who has cerebral palsy. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Mar 24, 2008 at 5:46 PM EST

Story Updated: Mar 26, 2008 at 6:15 PM EST

ELKHART — Scrap metal thieves in our area have apparently hit a new low. Over the Easter weekend they took a metal wheelchair lift from a non-profit agency in Elkhart.

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It was supposed to go to a local family with a child who is wheelchair bound with cerebral palsy. Now it is nowhere to be found.

The theft was discovered Friday afternoon at a non-profit agency called WheelchairHelp.org in Elkhart. It provides wheelchairs, power chairs, walkers, and accessories for those in need at reduced cost.

Scrappers took a wheelchair lift near a loading dock outside. It weighed about 1,000 pounds.

"We had made arrangements to gift it to a family in South Bend, with a child, 3 years old, with cerebral palsy,” explained Joe Lidy with WheelchairHelp.org. “And now we're not sure what's going to happen. We just hope the lift is recovered.”

The lift had been donated by a Chicago family who had a son with cerebral palsy. The agency took the time and expense to move it to Elkhart.

It is believed it would take four people to move it.

"Yes and a winch and probably a special transport trailer, like we rented to move it originally,” Lidy said.

Police say they are scratching their heads over this theft. They've seen scrappers steal metal in a number of different situations, but nothing like this.

“It’s one thing to steal aluminum from your backyard, when you are getting ready to recycle but to come in and steal somebody's wheelchair lift for somebody that can't even afford to go buy one, that's just crazy,” said Elkhart Police Lt. Ed Windbigler.

“They cost around $7,000 new,” Lidy said. “We estimate its value to be around $5,000, but actually it’s priceless."

Lidy says he hopes to recover the wheelchair lift in one piece. He hopes scrappers have not already cut it into pieces.

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