photo by: Chris Conde

Lawrence Police returned Brantley Lammo's stolen scooter to him Tuesday after it disappeared from the parking lot at the Iowa Street Walmart. Brantley is pictured wearing a new helmet, and he even got a brand new scooter (in box). His mother, Jennifer Lammo is second from right. Officer Levi Flohrschutz is at the lectern.

Updated at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday

Lawrence police on Tuesday brightened a child’s day when they returned his beloved scooter that had been stolen from a Lawrence store.

Police on Monday shared on Twitter photos from the Iowa Street Walmart that appeared to show three young women taking the scooter late Sunday evening. It was described as a red Jetson Lightning McQueen three-wheel scooter that belonged to a 7-year-old who was shopping with his mother — later identified as Brantley and Jennifer Lammo. The police asked for help in finding the scooter, and eventually it was returned by the women who took it, they said.

The unidentified women said in a statement that they were sorry, that they thought the scooter was abandoned because it was unchained and that after they saw the posts about it online they turned it in to police Monday afternoon.

“We hope the family can forgive us,” they said in the statement, which police shared at a news conference.

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Brantley Lammo, 7, is pictured with Officer Levi Flohrschutz Tuesday at Lawrence police headquarters, where his stolen scooter was returned to him.

Lammo and her son showed up to police headquarters Tuesday to take possession of the scooter. And Brantley not only got his old scooter back but got a brand new one from an anonymous donor. He also got a shiny new helmet from the Safe Kids program.

Brantley said he was thrilled to have the scooter back, and his mom said the family had received an outpouring of support with more than 10 people offering to donate scooters.

Lammo indicated that, despite the apology, she was interested in pressing charges against the women to impress upon them that stealing is wrong, especially as one never knows who is being harmed by the crime. She noted that her son, who has been diagnosed with autism, was especially distraught by the theft.

An affidavit has been forwarded to Lawrence Municipal Court, Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart said Tuesday.