Police are on the hunt for the thief who stole a young boy’s custom-made wheelchair.
The chair belongs to 4-year-old Nicholas Lovecchio, who suffers from epilepsy and microcephaly, a neurodevelopment disorder. Nicholas’ mother, Vicki Lovecchio, told NBC10 she had left her son’s chair outside their home on Commerce Avenue in Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, Monday around 2 p.m.
“I had my car parked here,” Lovecchio said. “I took it out. I didn’t put it in the house.”
An unidentified thief then snatched the chair and fled the scene. Police believe the suspect wanted to use the chair for scrap metal.
Whether it was trick-or-treating or watching a Phillies game, the chair, valued at more than $2200, allowed Nicholas to enjoy the same activities that other kids his age enjoy. Nicholas was also selected as an Easter Seals Ambassador during the summer. Easter Seals is a nonprofit charity organization that assists children and adults with special needs. Without his chair however, he may not be able to serve.
Lovecchio said she already has a doctor’s appointment lined up for her son Tuesday and is hoping her insurance company will be able to cover the costs for a new chair. More than anything however, she just wants the person responsible for the theft to return her son’s wheelchair.
“If it shows up on our doorstep anonymously, that would be wonderful,” she said. “We don’t want revenge or paybacks or punishment. We just want it back.”
U.S. & World
After we first reported the story, several NBC10 viewers contacted us offering to help the family get a new chair. The family has set up a GoFundMe page for donations.
