Special needs boy's loved scooter taken

A 9-year-old special needs child is distraught after the scooter he was given for Christmas was stolen from him at the skatebowl in Maraenui yesterday.

"He was playing up and down the street, then he went to the bowl," his caregiver John Turfrey said. "A larger boy just came up to him and took off with the scooter.

"He came home crying his head off. It's just not on."

The youngster, who cannot be named because he is in Child, Youth and Family care, has previously been targeted by thieves who took a much-loved tricycle from the front yard of his home when he was just 5-years-old.

The white MGP scooter with green wheels had given the child much joy and provided hours of entertainment.

"We have a large yard where he plays." That day he'd been told not to go out of the property but he did anyway. "He's been out before. He has a little friend who lives down the road, and he often scoots down there."

Mr Turfrey hoped that whoever took the scooter would have the decency to give it back.

"All I want is for the thing to be returned," he said.

"It's just very hard on the children."

Police would be looking out for the stolen property.

Anyone with information about the scooter should get in touch with Napier police on 831 0700 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.