Woman’s Handicapped Van Stolen; Strangers Step In

posted on Jan 14 by Stacy in the Wheelchair Accessible Vans category

Gloria Gallegos, a New Mexico disabled woman, invested thousands of dollars to make her van handicapped accessible. Last week it was stolen while she was grocery shopping, leaving her in desperate need of help. Saturday it was found abandoned. Tires and rims were gone, and the windows were broken out. It is uncertain whether or not insurance will cover the damage. Total strangers in her neighborhood have been reaching out to help Ms Gallegos. A local glass company has offered to replace the windows and detail the van at no cost. A neighborhood restaurant has donated cash. Gallegos is very thankful for the help and hopes that the police discover who is responsible for the theft. She says to whoever is responsible, “I hope they feel bad for what they did,” because “they knew the minute they got in that car, they knew it was for a handicapped person.”

Do you think having a van with conversions puts drivers at more risk to have their vehicles stolen or vandalized? What precautions can one take to make sure that their vans are safe?