GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Yesterday's wheelchair ramp theft left Robert Jahier and daughter Renisha bewildered.
Disabled teen’s
ramp is stolenA wheelchair-bound student
must cope without the device
Fifteen-year-old Renisha Jahier has Leigh's disease, a degenerative illness that attacks the central nervous system and has left her legally blind, dependent on a motorized wheelchair and mildly retarded.
On Nov. 3 a thief walked onto the front lawn of the Jahiers' Kaimuki home and stole the portable steel ramp that the Kalani High School student uses to get in and out of the family van, police said.
"This was not only illegal, this was an immoral act," said CrimeStoppers Detective Letha DeCaires.
Renisha's mother, Cheryl Jahier, said when she went outside that morning and did not see the ramp, she thought she had left it somewhere. "I thought, 'Did I forget it?'
"Then I asked my neighbors, and one of them said someone came and got it ... pulled right up and loaded it in his jeep. ... He thought maybe it was broken and this guy was picking it up to fix it, so he didn't say anything," she said.
Police said the neighbor told them that a man pulled into the driveway of the Kaimuki Avenue home at about 8 a.m. Nov. 3, picked up the collapsible steel ramp from where it was leaning against the car port, then loaded it into the Jeep Wrangler and drove off. The witness also saw a female passenger in the vehicle, police said.
Jahier said the family bought the $454 ramp with the help of donations and used it to take Renisha on outings, such as shopping or to the park. The family has another ramp for home use but used the portable ramp almost daily.
"I don't know why someone would steal this. I'm hoping they didn't know what it was," said Jahier. "If anything, I would just appreciate that person returning it.
"Just give it back if you could, please. ... This was something very important to our family."
Honolulu police recommend the same thing. "If the person who stole this now realizes what they've done, I'd recommend that they bring the item back or call the hot line to tell us how we can find it," DeCaires said.
The suspect is described as a male between 25 and 30 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 160 to 180 pounds, with blond wavy hair and a fair complexion. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, dark shorts and slippers.
The Jeep was described as a shiny red Wrangler with a black canvas top. The other suspect sitting in the vehicle during the ramp theft was only described as a local female.
The silver and black ramp is 6 feet long when extended and weighs about 50 pounds. It was folded in half and leaning against a carport when stolen. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
