By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Police have released footage of a man and a woman believed to have stolen a disability pensioner’s electric tricycle in Dandenong last year.
The red Hyosung trike, registered 2F5YF, had a large DISABILITY sign affixed and was locked in a designated parking space in the basement of the victim’s Cheltenham Road address.
Police believe that a man and a woman, who arrived in the car park on a red motorbike, stole the trike about 11.50pm on 12 July.
They were both wearing motorcycle helmets at the time.
CCTV footage shows the man operating an exit roller door as the woman wheels the tricycle out of the car park.
She then pedals away on the tricycle.
The trike’s owner, Denis Papko, discovered his $2500 transport was missing the next morning.
And worse, lightning struck twice. His identical replacement tricycle was stolen from its chain-locked mooring at Sandown Park Hotel on Tuesday 28 January about 6.45pm.
The mobility-impaired 35-year-old had used the essential transport daily for shopping, outings to the city and visiting family and friends.
He can’t afford to replace or insure the essential transport.
“I enjoyed riding them – they’re fantastic.
“It gets on my nerves that they don’t look at the (disability) sign and think ‘what if he can’t walk?’
“I’m sad. I don’t know why these sort of people do this.
Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
