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Autistic Girl's Custom-Made Tricycle Stolen In Marina Del Rey
Police are looking for two terrible men who stole a special needs girl's custom-made tricycle that was gifted to her by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The theft happened on Nov. 30 in Marina Del Rey at the Marina City Club Condominium complex, where the bike was being stored at the home of a family friend, KTLA reports. The trike belonged to Mia Timbrello, a 12-year-old girl who has been rendered mute by severe autism. She also underwent a double organ transplant when she was a baby and the medication prescribed to her after that transplant made her deaf.
Mia received the tricycle in April of last year from the foundation and loved it. "It was very sentimental to her because she can't ride a normal bike," Detective Keysha Gipson told CBS 2.
Surveillance footage shows two men hoisting the bulky bike over a fence on the property. Police are currently unsure as the the reason why someone would steal Mia's special trike.
Initially, Mia's family reported the theft to building employees, but did not file a police report until recently, the L.A. Times reports.
The tricycle is described as a fire-orange tandem, with three wheels and a back rest in the front seat to support Mia. The trike is also electronically powered. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the bike is urged to contact Detective Keysha Gipson at 310-482-6000. Anyone wanting to make an anonymous tip should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477)