Callous thief steals Vietnam veteran’s mobility scooter – but police organise replacement
He was robbed of his electronic scooter and his independence but this Vietnam veteran received the surprise of his life on Friday.
North & North East
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Police are hunting for a heartless thief who robbed a Vietnam veteran of his independence by taking his mobility scooter this week.
Ian Condon, 78, of Para Hills, tragically lost his legs in a parachuting accident at the Randwick Army Barracks in NSW and relies on his electronic scooter to move around.
Police believe his red Pide scooter was stolen from his open carport at Para Hills some time between 3pm on Wednesday and 8am on Thursday.
After learning of the double-amputee’s heartbreaking situation, officers contacted John Symmons at the Jesse Bird Welfare Centre, who provided a replacement scooter while the crime is investigated.
Mr Symmons said he had a spare gopher in storage, which he immediately picked up and delivered to an emotional Mr Condon on Friday morning.
“He has been quite down the last couple of days and quite upset about it and obviously it was a big relief for him to know that somebody actually cared,” Mr Symmons said.
“(The scooter) is a very integral part to his life – being able to get to the doctors and everything else.”
The Jesse Bird Welfare Centre, based in Mawson Lakes, provides support to current and ex-serving military members – with most of their clients based in metro Adelaide.
“Look I’m ever so grateful… it was almost as good as the day I got the divorce.†Para Hills Vietnam veteran gifted a gopher after callous theft. The victim, 78-year-old Ian Condon, lost his legs in a military incident and is heavily reliant on a mobility scooter. #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/HtEuu3Qnw8
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) August 14, 2020
Mr Condon told 7 NEWS Adelaide he was about to visit the bank to secure a loan for a new gopher when Mr Symmons arrived with the replacement.
“I’m very grateful that somebody knew how to go about getting one of these things for me, my only way of looking at it was to go see the bank about getting a loan – and these things cost around $5000,” he said.
“It gives be independence to go from point A to point B.”
Mr Condon said the replacement was a complete surprise and described the feeling like “when you land at Mascot Airfield coming home from Vietnam”.