Karen Romero is finishing up her degree in Child Development at Cal State L.A. But now her dream of graduating this Spring has hit roadblock because the motorized wheelchair she relies on was stolen while she did homework Wednesday night.
Romero, 30, has needed a wheelchair since she was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a child. She was working on her thesis paper at a tutor’s house in 300 block of S. Normandie Avenue in Los Angeles when thieves saw their chance.
“I needed to lock my wheelchair to a bike rack outside because I couldn’t get the chair up the four steps to the tutor’s house,” Romero said.
When she was ready leave about 10 pm, she found the lock was broken and her $9,000 wheelchair gone.
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“It’s a really heavy chair and takes four men to carry it. Someone had to see the thieves,” she said.
Romero reported the theft to police but they gave her little hope. “They said if they tried to pawn the chair they could trace it though the serial number, but otherwise the chances are slim that I’ll have it returned.”
Romero is hoping for public help to get her chair back or maybe the thieves will grow a conscience and give it back.
