Wheelchair Theft Heartbreak for Disabled Girl

Callous thieves have jeopardised a young girl’s hopes of being able to walk by stealing her wheelchair and walking frame.

Six-year-old Tyla, who lives with her parents and brother in Bradford, has cerebral palsy and spastic diplegia.  She relies on her walking frame and uses it daily at physiotherapy appointments which are designed to help strengthen her stiffened legs.

The family was asleep upstairs when thieves broke into their home through a back door and began ransacking the living room in the small hours of last Wednesday.  The gang stole a TV, laptop, iPad and iPods before fleeing through the front door and driving off in the family’s car which had Tyla’s frame and wheelchair in the boot.

Heartbreaking

Tyla was due to undergo surgery at Leeds General Infirmary next week to release elasticity in her muscles.  Without the “irreplaceable” frame, Tyla’s mother, Chrissy, fears the theft may jeapordise Tyla’s chances of getting back on her feet.

Chrissy said: “Children who’ve had this operation have been walking within a year but the walking frame is crucial for the physiotherapy.”

“It’s heartbreaking what they’ve done to us.  They’ve taken the only little bit of independence she has.  If the operation doesn’t go ahead they will have robbed that chance Tyla had to walk.  She is a really, really brave little girl and she doesn’t deserve this.”

Det Insp George Bardell said: “It is particularly galling that those responsible will have likely known this was specialised equipment used to assist someone’s mobility.  These heartless actions will undoubtedly have caused significant upset and difficulties and it is important we apprehend those behind this.”

Anyone who may have witnessed the offence, who has any information or who may have been offered any of the stolen property is asked to contact the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.