A cold-hearted crime in Antigonish, N.S., leaves a man wondering why anyone would steal his custom-made wheelchair.
It was 13 years ago Wednesday that Bill Beaton was in a motor vehicle collision that resulted in him needing the $5,400 chair.
“It was so weird that it (was stolen) on the eve of my accident,” Beaton says.
Beaton is now required to use his old chair that's seen better days. Over the years, he's often been forced to leave his chair when he needs to make a quick trip somewhere.
“I always leave it if I'm jumping in my truck, coming right back,” says Boyle. “Sometimes if it's raining or snowing, the girls will take it inside … I called the girls, said can you get my chair, she said it's not here.”
The theft may have been a crime of opportunity, as the back side of the restaurant is visible from the highway.
RCMP are investigating, and surveillance cameras from different businesses in the area are being checked for clues. Alexis Beaton has been using social media to spread the word about what's happened to her husband's chair.
She says the likes and shares are already in the thousands.
“It's heartwarming,” says Alexis Beaton. ‘It made you feel good about the community and everyone willing to help. Just to see how far it's gone, it's crazy.”
Bill Beaton can't understand why anyone would steal a wheelchair.
“Maybe a bicycle or people's vehicles get stolen, but what are you going to do with it?” asks Beaton.
Beaton says all he wants is to have it back, no questions asked.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Dan MacIntosh.
