Morphett Vale pair cut off from medical care, services by mobility scooter theft
Two mobility scooters stolen at Morphett Vale last week were critical links to the medical services and supplies, their distraught owners say.
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Elderly residents in a southern suburbs public housing complex feel like they have “lost their legs” after two mobility scooters were taken from their properties this week.
Jan Brunskill, 62, and Robert, 77, who did not wish to provide his last name, woke on Sunday to find their gophers – stored under covers on the front porches of their Morphett Vale units – had disappeared.
Ms Brunskill, who suffers chronic pain, said she was devastated when she realised she and her neighbour’s gophers were missing from their Benatar Court units.
“My knees were shaking, I just sat down and cried,” Ms Brunskill said.
Robert suffers kidney failure, and uses his gopher to attend the Noarlunga Hospital three times a week for dialysis, in addition to shopping and doctors appointments.
He said waking to the stolen scooters was a “kick in the guts”.
“A taxi is quite expensive to travel to the hospital so often,” Robert said.
Ms Brunskill does not know what she will do without her gopher, as she uses it everyday.
“I don’t have a car, I use my gopher for shopping, but I also use it for lots of fun down the duck pond.
“It’s like my legs. It’s my enjoyment, it’s my out, its everything to me.”
She urged Housing SA to invest in CCTV cameras, as a recent influx of young people in the housing complex has brought a higher police presence in the area.
“Its only since they’ve let in younger people, they have brought in the problems.”
A Housing SA spokeswoman said they were unaware of the property theft, and urges tenants to take reasonable measures to secure their property.
“Units at Benatar Court are often used for people living with disability as the ground level units are easier for people with mobility issues to move in and out of,” the spokeswoman said.
“Efforts are being made to place senior tenants in the units.”
She said Housing SA are happy to discuss security concerns with tenants.
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