Alyce Nelligan’s heartfelt thank you to community after stolen car found

A prominent disability advocate will be reunited with her stolen car, and hopefully her wheelchair, after police located her vehicle far from Toowoomba.

Disability advocate and Green candidate Alyce Nelligan is asking that the thieves who stole her custom wheelchair leave it somewhere public, as arranging a replacement will take at least nine months and she can't leave home without it. Picture: Social media

A car stolen from prominent disability advocate Alyce Nelligan’s Toowoomba home has been recovered intact by police after it was stolen.

However, the owners of a burnt-out car found next to her BMW were not so fortunate.

Ms Nelligan was rendered home-bound, as her custom-built electric wheelchair was in the boot of her car when it was stolen last Friday.

Police have located Alyce Nelligan’s 2004 BMW 3 Series after it was stolen from Cambooya on Thursday evening.

Ms Nelligan said police contacted her on Tuesday afternoon and told her the car had been found at Millmerran mostly intact, and they were also confident they would be able to find her chair.

“I couldn’t believe it, it’s a miracle and dream come true,” she said.

“I’m just very grateful it was found … I couldn’t have asked for more.

“And I want to thank everyone who helped. It really means the world to me, and I’ll never be able to repay that kindness back.

Disability advocate and Green candidate Alyce Nelligan. Picture: Social media

“People have offered wheelchairs, they have dropped things off, people have wanted to start a GoFundMe, the community has just come together to help.

“It’s restored my faith in humanity in many ways … their generosity has been unbelievable.”

Police are transporting the car to Toowoomba for forensic examination.

Ms Nelligan is affected by a rare muscle condition that leaves her unable to walk with the theft not only taking away her legs, but also her independence and freedom.

“They don’t think of the flow-on effect,” she said.

“I will admit it’s been really very challenging and quite distressing.

“It also makes you quite nervous having someone break into your home, take your keys and your car.

“The physiological impact is there and then the extra bit of that is the wheelchair is my legs, and now I’m housebound.

“It’s been mentally really difficult to comprehend and I just don’t understand why anyone would do that.”