Theft of Corona child’s wheelchair brings an outpouring of generosity
The theft of an expensive pink wheelchair used by a Corona child with Down syndrome has prompted a search by police and an outpouring of community generosity.
Sometime between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 6:30 a.m. Thursday, the wheelchair used by 4-year-old Jocelyn Flores was stolen from the front porch of her family’s home in the 300 block of West Grand Boulevard, said Corona Police Department spokesman Sgt. Brent Nelson.
“The family didn’t hear or see anything,” Nelson said. “They woke up in the morning to the chair being gone.”
Jocelyn relies on the wheelchair for mobility. Without the wheelchair, the girl was unable to attend school.
Her sister Alex told KABC-TV Channel 7, “I’m angry that somebody would come and take something from her. Who does this?”
The family stored the wheelchair — which typically requires two people to carry — on the front porch and tethered it to a railing, Nelson said.
In place of the wheelchair, the family has pushed the 4-year-old girl in an ill-fitting stroller.
The Corona Police Department announced the theft on its Facebook page and issued a news release.
Since then, individuals, businesses and charities have donated funds for a replacement Kid Cart Xpress chair, a model that starts out at $2,300.
“Our community has overwhelmed us with support for the family,” Nelson said.
In the meantime, police are continuing to search for the missing wheelchair.
Twitter: @MattHjourno
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