Lawrence man's motorized wheelchair stolen after accident
A Lawrence man was just trying to get home until a bump in the sidewalk and a cold-hearted thief got in his way. Enlarge video
Monday was a bad day for Pat Helbert.
First he crashed his motorized wheelchair and then it was stolen, all in less than an hour.
“I’m very frustrated that this happened in my hometown of Lawrence, Kan., and it’s taken away my ability to do the things I needed to do,” Helbert said.
It all started when Helbert, who is paralyzed on his left side, was headed home to his southwest Lawrence apartment. While traveling on a sidewalk in the 2400 block of Wakarusa Drive, just south of Clinton Parkway, his wheelchair didn’t take well to a large bump.
The wheelchair tumbled over and Helbert, 53, was thrown out. He scraped up his knees.
“The way that ditch threw me forward, I could’ve easily busted out some teeth or broke my nose,” said Helbert.
He laid on the ground, not able to get up, for about three minutes, until a Good Samaritan named Ken stopped to help him.
But when Helbert tried to get the wheelchair to go again, it wouldn’t power up. So, the stranger gave Helbert a ride home in his car.
Helbert, who suffers from epilepsy and other complications from a stroke, said he called the city’s paratransit service to take him by the scene of the crash to help him with his now-disabled wheelchair.
When they got there, the $4,000 motorized wheelchair was gone.
“They had to be some pretty good-sized guys with a pickup truck or something, because with all those batteries that run the thing, the chair itself probably weighs about 250 pounds,” Helbert said.
Helbert called Lawrence police to report the theft about two hours later, a police report said. The wheelchair is black and red.
“Officers canvassed the area, but did not find any trace of the chair and found no suspects,” said Kim Murphree, police spokeswoman. “The victim reported the person who helped him was definitely not a suspect.”
Now, Helbert struggles to get around in a wheelchair loaned to him by Independence Inc. He can stand with a cane for only a few seconds and is confined to his apartment.
The theft has also left him with no way to check his mailbox or to get around his house with ease.
Helbert said he can’t afford a new chair and doesn’t know if it’s covered under his insurance, so he’s asking whoever took his chair to give it back.
“If they’d just return the chair to me, I won’t press any charges,” Hilbert said. “I just want the chair back, give me my mobility back, let me go do the things that I need to do.”
The theft happened between 12:45 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. Monday, police said. Anyone with information about the theft should call Crimestoppers, at 843-8477 (TIPS) or Lawrence police at 832-7509.
Comments
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mightyquin (anonymous) says…
Thats about as low as you can get. Steal a persons wheelchair. Lowlife scum of the earth!!!!!
d_prowess (anonymous) says…
Can we all just hope that it was picked up by some other good samaritan and they will report it lost or see this article and know who it belongs to?
Because really, who would steal this?
1029 (anonymous) says…
Somebody was probably driving by and thought it was a good find, so they took it. I imagine (would hope) that they would keep an eye on local news and return it once they realize that it belongs to someone.
Also, if you find something on the sidewalk and pick it up, and the person who lost the item finds out that you have it, can they really press charges for theft? Even if you agree to give it back? Where is the line between “finding” and “stealing” if the item is just laying on public property with no owner in sight.
Anyway, good to see the Journal-World have this article. Hopefully the people who have the chair will see it and realize that their too-good-to-be-true “find” really was too good to be true.
tolawdjk (anonymous) says…
Quick, someone check Yellowhouse!
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
Because really, who would steal this?
---d_prowess.
well, the same kinda low lifes who steal copper from houses or electrical stations.
that chair may already have gone to salvage, or been sold off.
yes I hope for a much better outcome! hope whoever picked it up didn't have such intentions.
and Pat you're lucky you're using your wheelchair there, try most of east lawrence, north lawrence, much of old west lawrence, oread, etc. sidewalks...we don't need no stinkin' smooth serviceable sidewalks!
hey, good luck Mr. Hilbert!
OldEnuf2BYurDad (anonymous) says…
I posted on another board that I don't support the death penalty.
I now rescind that comment.
ljreader (anonymous) says…
Stealing a guys wheelchair- That's a cold bowl of chile.
rumblestrut (Eric Gruber) says…
Can I donate somewhere to help out?
Danimal (anonymous) says…
Hey, Lawrence is all grown up now, it won't be that much longer before people stop greeting strangers on the sidewalk.
somebodynew (anonymous) says…
@1029 - yes- there is a little known (and seldom used) statute about theft of lost or mislaid property. It is not just "finders-keepers" and someone finding that had to know that it belonged to someone and that a reasonable person wouldn't think that it was just abandoned (particularly there).
So yes, if they are reading this article they need to make the phone call and say they were just waiting to find out who lost it so they could return it. Because while I said this is a seldom used law, in this case I would be glad to see it enforced if they don't make any effort to return it.
youngjayhawk (anonymous) says…
I would like to donate ... has there been a fund set up?
sustainabilitysister (anonymous) says…
People can make donations to Indepenence Inc. at the following web site:
http://independenceinc.org/contribute...
Our community is very lucky to have this organization.
KU_cynic (anonymous) says…
I drove by and saw the wheel chair at about 8:10 AM. Thought it was weird.
FenixKS (anonymous) says…
beo, I was wondering the same thing. Different day?
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
Beo:
KU_cynic
(Anonymous) says…
I drove by and saw the wheel chair at about 8:10 AM. Thought it was weird.
apparently he has his chronometer set to daylight saving time ... for hawaii!
mike_blur (Mike Blur) says…
Hawaii does not observe DST.
repaste (anonymous) says…
Mr Helbert, I think you have a claim with the city for that chair.. Last fall my 11 year old hit that same spot on his bike and was hurt pretty good- $300. doctor bill, no lasting injuries. I contacted the city risk management lady twice, actually talked to her, that side walk is below the city standard - 2 inch break. Going downhill makes it worse. Lawrence put some $5. hot patch in there and keep another kid (or citizen) out of the emergency room. We talk about the politics of a city but this is a failure of the most basic services. 15 minutes with a city crew, $5 , no paperwork, use your brain, serve our city, don't spend $150 to spend an inspector the super out, don't hire a consultant, trust that guy making $9 to use his superior knowledge to fix it. He can.
repaste (anonymous) says…
And while the crew is out, fill in the cuts west of wak & 6th where the new lights were put in, or put warning flags up. The poster writing about the horrible sidewalks around town is right, I understand where huge sums of cash are needed, but fix the easy ones. We get new bike trails through devickter park, but I cannot ride my bike down 6th street. Maybe some green funds could be used to make the city a little more walking/bike friendly instead of tearing up miles of 6th to help a few developers in a time of low growth. Fix the side walk city, dont bitch at the property owners, just fix it. I challenge Rob or another commish to drive by (maybe on a bike), look at this and get it done. If this was the side walk in front of their house, it would be done.
OldEnuf2BYurDad (anonymous) says…
Repaste is on to something. I had an "issue" regarding the city's failure to do the right thing regarding public areas (it was in the paper, so I don't want to reveal myself), and the city told me they'd consider paying a claim on my damages. If this spot was known to the city and others have complained...
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
a few years ago I was walking just before dawn, and fell into a hole about 12" across and 4 feet deep. The city had removed a traffic sign and neglected to fill the hole or mark it as a hazard. I called the city mgr. So, I agree this city probably has some liability to be held accountable. Even if they try to put it off on the land owner, I think the city is still the authority for making sure sidewalks are safe.
KU_cynic (anonymous) says…
I was out of town on Monday. I drove down Wakarusa just south of Clinton Parkway on Tuesday morning at about 8:10 AM and saw a deep red colored motorized wheel chair sitting on the sidewalk on the east side of the road.
Perhaps it was a different missing/abandoned motorized wheelchair? Or perhaps somebody else's story is wrong.
donloux (anonymous) says…
Everybody can stop worrying. The wheel chair was on my sidewalk when I pulled out of my driveway this morning. I called the police at 6:15 to report it. I live about two blocks away from where it disappeared.
repaste (anonymous) says…
yeehaw! some one got tired if pushing.
xbusguy (chris Ogle) says…
donloux (Anonymous) says…
Everybody can stop worrying. The wheel chair was on my sidewalk when I pulled out of my driveway this morning. I called the police at 6:15 to report it. I live about two blocks away from where it disappeared
------------------------------------
Cool
none2 (anonymous) says…
mike_blur (Mike Blur) says…
"Hawaii does not observe DST."
==============================
Maybe he just doesn't know his geography. Perhaps he meant to reference another chain of islands: Alaska's Aleutian island time zone -- same as Hawaii's but they do observe DST.
Speaking of DST, it surprised me just how ignorant some people are about it. Some older college students were talking about it and they thought it was only used in the USA -- and thus partially why they hated it. They didn't even know that the concept came from Ben Franklin, nor that many places in the world use it.
redmoonrising (anonymous) says…
Since it probably didn't get there by itself, maybe someone had second thoughts and put it back. It's pretty low to steal anything, let alone something that another person relies on for moving about. Hope it's easily repaired and the Mr. Helbert is soon out and about again.
Phogfan86 (anonymous) says…
But... but... stuff like this doesn't happen in Lawrence.
I am glad, however, that it turned up. Maybe someone grew a conscience.
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
severely humor impaired:
mike_blur
(Mike Blur) says…
Hawaii does not observe DST.
thomgreen (anonymous) says…
I could have sworn I saw a red motorized wheelchair in someone's front yard yesterday with a $1000 price tag on it. I thought it was weird to try selling a motorized wheelchair in your front yard. Probably a different one, but you never know.
I'm glad Mr. Helbert got his wheels back though.
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
severely humor impaired:
mike_blur
(Mike Blur) says…
Hawaii does not observe DST.
---
like worrying about *Kansas hurricanes!*
mike_blur (Mike Blur) says…
bearded_groan:
I know humor when I experience it.
You, groan, are the most humorless of the lot here on the ljworld forums. I exposed you for the ignorant fool you are, and you have to personally attack me.
I have never said anything about Kansas hurricanes.
Please keep your "day job" i.e., collecting government checks. Leave the humor to those skilled persons.
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
whoa,
a little sensitive, mr. "retired rock star" whom no one's ever heard of!
did I say you had said anything about kansas hurricanes.
and though your severe humor deficit prevents you, others do find my humor as humorous.
I think the real issue has nothing to do with humor, and I have really gotten under your skin when you tried to single me out...and as to my day job, you know nothing. you wouldn't make it one day in my shoes. you are obviously too thin skinned, weak willed and too petty.
now, you asked for personal attack...
and you are the self-appointed humor police? what does that really say about you?