Thief steals wheelchair-basketball team's trailer, equipment
Posted: Oct 04, 2010 5:26 PM EDT Updated: Oct 08, 2010 7:28 PM EDT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P5p_5DvZ0M
By Taylor Kearns - bio | email
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott is asking for the community's help identifying and locating a grand larceny suspect.
Lott stated that a white trailer with the logo "LIMITLESS SPORTS" was stolen Friday night from the parking lot on Boney Road. Inside were six to eight specialized wheelchairs, a portable goal and extra gear. The team says the value of the chairs and equipment tops $15,000.
Investigators have determined that the trailer was stolen by a newer model dual pickup truck with running boards and lights on top of the cab.
At first, Catherine Lee Graham saw the Rolling Thunder as a chance at a better workout. That was seven years ago, and today, what was great exercise is an extended family. "It was like getting 10 older brothers simultaneously, but they showed me the ropes they taught me the rules of basketball which even seven years later I still don't understand some times," laughed Graham.
It was an opportunity Graham says others could now miss out on. "We can go to one game and damage a wheel easily, and if you don't have a spare to replace it with, you're just out of luck for weeks on end," said Graham.
"They're sports chairs, they're angled different," said Coach Johna Sutton. "They're set up different."
The stolen chairs made up a reserve the team or new players could use. "If you have any heart at all, please just return the chairs," said Sutton. "You know where you got 'em from, you know what time the park closes 'cause that's when you came. Just return the chairs."
Graham says the team can't afford to replace all the gear. That means anyone interested in joining the team could be missing out on the exercise and the experience that goes with it. "It's giving someone else the positive outlook that may not have had it with dealing all of the issues of a new injury, and it's very disheartening to think we can't provide that," said Graham.
You can learn more about Rolling Thunder by clicking here. If anyone has any information about this incident or knows the identity of the suspects they are asked to call, text or email their anonymous tip to Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
Copyright 2010 WIS. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment