The 82-year-old man was overcome with emotion when reunited with his stolen scooter today.
An 82-year-old man has been reunited with his stolen mobility scooter – with police charging a 50-year-old man over the theft.
“It was like losing a leg…” the victim tearfully told Nine News.
“I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t do anything – I was so lonely,” he said of the callous theft, before thanking police, the public and the media for taking up his plight to find the stolen scooter.
Police say that at about 2.30pm on Sunday, the 82-year-old had parked his red mobility scooter outside his home on Macarthur Street in Ultimo.
He noticed it was missing about 4.30pm the same day and notified officers from Sydney City Police Area Command who commenced an investigation.
Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command attended Boussole Road at Daceyville and arrested a 50-year-old man.
He was taken to Maroubra Police Station and charged with larceny and possess or use a prohibited weapon.
He has been refused bail and is expected to appear in Waverley Local Court today.
Sydney City Police Area Commander, Acting Superintendent Paul Dunstan, said the community assistance in this investigation was overwhelming.
“Our investigators have been inundated with calls from members of the public which led to an arrest last night,” he said.
“This is a fine example of the community coming together to assist police in this investigation enabling us to someone before the court.
“We have recovered the man’s mobility scooter which we gladly return to him today,” A/Supt Dunstan said.