Thief steals wheelchair from Port Moody parking garage
A thief took a Sunrise Quickie wheelchair, like this one, from a Port Moody woman's parking garage.
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Updated: November 06, 2009 4:32 PM
Shannon Levesque figured her building was safe but was given a rude awakening after her wheelchair was stolen from the underground parking lot.
Levesque lives in one of the Klahanie buildings in Port Moody and, as a private caregiver for several elderly clients in the Vancouver area, uses the wheelchair to take them to appointments, out for walks or errands, and for the occasional play or concert.
That changed about two weeks ago when she came home to find the wheelchair missing.
“It makes you question the nature of humanity,” she said. “I know times are tough for people but that’s not the right thing to do.”
Levesque had stored the chair in a small space between her storage locker and behind a motorcycle at the front of her parking spot. She usually takes off the seat and footrests for security but had left them on because it was raining the last time she used the chair and she wanted them to dry out.
She checked the parking lot security cameras but nobody was seen walking out with the wheelchair. And while she’s hurt by the theft, Levesque said she has also seen the bright side of humanity.
After posting several notices about the missing wheelchair, an elderly resident whose wife uses a wheelchair gave Levesque one of their old ones so she should could continue helping her clients.
The stolen chair — called a Sunrise Quickie — was about five years old and was given to her by the family of a client who had passed away.
Buying the same one today would likely cost her about $3,000, Levesque said.
“It’s really quite a nice model,” with a padded seat and backrest that make it possible for the frail and elderly to sit comfortably for several hours.
Levesque said her clients were “just appalled” about the theft.
“What can you say? Who steals a wheelchair?”
She’s asking for whoever took the chair to return it, no questions asked. Anyone with information can contact her at Triumph Home Care, 778-886-5994.
spayne@tricitynews.com
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