A Windsor family is asking the public for help in locating a stolen bicycle belonging to their daughter who has special needs.
A custom-made three-wheel Schwinn, belonging to Kimmberly Ghostkeeper's 12-year-old daughter Autumn, was stolen from the backyard of their home on Curry Ave. near University Ave. W over the weekend.
Ghostkeeper tells BlackburnNewsWindsor.com that Autumn has social and emotional issues, as well as problems with motor development. So this bike was a breakthrough for her when it was purchased last year.
"She's going to be 13 in November and she'd never ridden a bike before," says Ghostkeeper. "She rode it a couple of times and she was just so happy. She could keep up with the other kids and everything."
Ghostkeeper says it isn't the first time her home has been hit by crime. She has had a lawnmower stolen and someone had once broken in while she and her family were asleep.
The bike is typically built for the elderly, with three wheels and usually, a basket attached. Ghostkeeper says she and her husband made some modifications to the bike to make it easier for Autumn to use. Needless to say, Autumn is devastated.
"If somebody sees this, they know that it's for an elderly person or a handicapped child. And you go in the backyard and steal it? Seriously?" says Ghostkeeper. "My daughter just keeps asking 'Why, Mommy?'"
Ghostkeeper took to Facebook to put the word out about the theft, and she says Windsor police have been following the case closely. On her page, information was shown in which someone spotted a man with a similar bike in the Malden Park area, and he appeared to be painting the blue bicycle black.
The bicycle is pictured. It was taken from the home either late Friday night or early Saturday morning. The value of the bike is around $700.
Anyone with information on the bicycle, or who may have seen a similar model on the streets, is asked to call Windsor police at (519) 255-6700.
