Man's wheelchair stolen from his yard

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Attention whoever may have picked up a wheelchair in front of Beechwood Drive home: A 24-year-old with spina bifida really needs it back.

Matthew Smith has crutches that he can use to get around. But it was his customized wheelchair that allowed him more endurance and the ability to get around easier.

"He can get down the driveway, but for long distances, he needs a wheelchair," said his mother, Maxine.

With all of the rain this past week, the Smiths put the wheelchair near the end of the steep driveway, about 15 feet from the road, and covered it with a black bag to help keep it dry. But before Matthew Smith could catch a bus Wednesday for a weekly trip to the Shepherd Center, he saw the unthinkable happen. He watched from a window as someone in a red pick-up truck stopped in front of the house, loaded up the wheelchair and drove away.

At first, Franklin Smith said he wondered if the person thought the wheelchair was being tossed out. But that didn't seem very likely.

"It was a long way from the road," he said. "It seems odd that he decided to take the chair."

The family filed a police report  based on Matthew's description of the truck and its driver. And Maxine Smith created a sign for the mailbox.

But so far, the chair has not been returned. Franklin Smith said the family is working with the Shepherd Center to get new wheels for Matthew, who is part of the air rifle team at the center. Until a new chair can be customized for him, the family hopes maybe whoever picked up the chair will bring it back.

"It's just unbelievable," Maxine Smith said. "Who would take a wheelchair?"