Tricycle taken from Dexter teen with autism returned in middle of night
Just over a week after a Dexter High School student with autism discovered his adult tricycle disappeared from the family driveway, it was returned to his Dexter home.
Jake Jones, 16, reported the trike was stolen last week after he left it in the driveway to get a drink. When he returned, the trike was gone, and a neighbor reported seeing two people load it into the back of a white pickup truck.
The trike was dropped off sometime overnight Thursday in front of the family home, said his mother, Kim Jones.
The family received an anonymous call saying the trike had been taken accidentally after being mistaken for trash, and the person apologized for the mistake, Kim Jones said.
"I'd like to say thank you to everyone for their donations and support," Kim Jones said. "It was so overwhelming and we appreciate knowing we're not alone, the community is behind us."
A number of people had reached out expressing interested in donating toward getting a new bike for Jake Jones.
Any donations already received or those received going forward will go toward purchasing bikes for special needs children, she said. She hopes to start a charity called Bikes for Autism because the trike is an important source of independence for Jake, said Kim Jones.
"I wanted to do this because, being a single mom and trying to afford things in this economy, I know there are a lot of things like this that folks can't provide to their families," she said.
Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.
Comments
Rhondasma
Sat, Jul 17, 2010 : 11:08 a.m.
Okay, I'm afraid I must part company with the cynics this time. Although it might be easy to holler "thief" a lot of the time, this time the mere fact that the person(s) who took it also returned it of their own volition (night-time return notwithstanding) tells me it could very well be (no, make that "most likely") that they took it mistakenly. I can't count the times I've seen ads for "free - curbside pick-up" for usable items, both large and small, so let's not be too quick to condemn those who are potentially well-intentioned but see an opportunity to legitimately acquire an item they can either put to use or, if unusable, sell for scrap and legitimately earn a little bit of cash. The crooks and thieves I've become aware of these days would be quite amused to learn they had "ripped off" a special needs person. It has been said that the world has "lost its blush for sin" and as time goes on I find that to be more and more the case.
huh7891
Sat, Jul 17, 2010 : 10:25 a.m.
It is very possible it could have been mistaken for something to be picked up on trash day. I live in this neighborhood and people do put unwanted items out at the curb on trash day, however, they typically put a "free" sign attached to it. It isn't uncommon to see people drive up and load perfectly good unwanted items into a truck or van. Since this story was on WDIV, WXYZ, also in A@2.com and the Dexter Leader, the person (s) that took the bike probably were embarrassed or feared legal action or just were not aware. In the future perhaps they could ask the homeowner before driving off with the item if it isn't labeled as "free". I'm am glad word got out and he got his bike back.
Atticus F.
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 3:41 p.m.
there is nothing unusual about leaving items on the side of the road, with the intention of having someone pick them up for free. I see couches, desk, bicycles, ect.. on the side of the road on a daily basis. There is obviously alot of anger involved because of the autism factor. But I get the sense a few of the people posting here are more intereted in 'blind vengance', because of their anger. And because of this, they are not willing to consider that this might have been an accident...
mommaof2
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 3:27 p.m.
Glad to hear it was returned and good for this mother for donating the money! This story warms my heart all around.
LAEL
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 3:19 p.m.
and... not only that, but some other children will now also benefit! What a great way to turn an upsetting experience into something wonderful.
Snarf Oscar Boondoggle
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 2:43 p.m.
whaaaaaaaaaaatever.... it;s back. this is good. a2.com did it;s part of a public service, this is good. which story to believe? it does not matter; the trike is returned. next?
yaah
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 2:38 p.m.
My trash is always picked up by guys in pickup trucks - I don't know why anyone thinks this could be unusual!
RTFM
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 1:30 p.m.
So let me get this straight, if someone parks their car in their driveway then it is trash and people are free to take it? If this logic is right, then I see a lot of trashed cars in Ann Arbor, Dexter, and Saline. If any sees a Lexus 460 or 470 parked in a driveway, please let me know.
Top Cat
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 12:57 p.m.
I like happy endings.
Greg_G
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 10:41 a.m.
Glad to hear it was recovered, but let's be frank, there is no way a $500 tricycle left in a driveway could be mistaken for trash. Not the crime of the century but it would have been nice to see the police actually make an arrest in the case.
Moonmaiden
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 10:30 a.m.
Whew! Glad it's back. For money received, it seems the first option would be to offer to return it, unless it was an anonymous donation.
Duane Collicott
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 9:38 a.m.
michiganpoorboy, I think the point was that it was left on the part of the yard near the curb, which is where some people put things that they are offering for free to anybody who wants it, and somebody came along and thought it was such a giveaway. At least that's my interpretation.
Ignatz
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 8:47 a.m.
Guilty consciences make for a better society.
michiganpoorboy
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 8:40 a.m.
It was a mistake??? It was the trash that took the bike.
montyman
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 : 8:21 a.m.
Good to hear this was an honest mistake. It was hard to believe anybody could be as cold as to steal a bike obviously used by someone with special needs.