Search continues for stolen wheelchairs, sports equipment in Regina

The Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports Association is still trying to track down wheelchairs and sports equipment that were stolen last week in Regina.

Jennifer Wood, the association’s program co-ordinator, told the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Monday that five specialized wheelchairs, a number of basketballs and rugby balls, and a bag full of floor hockey sticks were among the items taken.

She estimated the equipment is worth more than $25,000.

“It (happened) over the long weekend at some point,” Wood added. “Staff in the building went back to work Tuesday morning (Sept. 5) and they noticed that the trailer door was ajar. Some stuff was on the ground.”

At the time of the break-in, the trailer was parked in a lot on Park Street, and police said the gear was taken sometime between Sept. 3 and Sept. 5.

Wood said there aren’t any cameras on site, so she wasn’t able to provide a specific timeline of events.

She also said that, to her knowledge, the Regina Police Service doesn’t have any leads.

“They have put out a call to the public and lots of people are sharing it, which is absolutely fantastic,” she said.

The program co-ordinator said the association believes the thieves stole the wheelchairs thinking they could sell them.

“They just are a specialized piece of equipment, though. They’re not your everyday chair. They don’t have brakes,” she added. “I really, really don’t know why people (took the items) … It’ll take us a long time to replace this, so it’s just really unfortunate.”

Wood said the equipment theft is going to have a huge negative impact on the association’s programs in southern Saskatchewan.

“It affects all of our clinics that we’re going to do. We like to take a trailerful (available to go) out to (kids) in the community so they can play. We also have a rental program for kids to use the equipment at school,” she added. “We do a free rental, so this was part of that stash that was taken as well.”

Wood added the association now have will to borrow equipment from its trailer in Saskatoon, resulting in equipment being moved back and forth more often.

People are being encouraged to look out for the stolen goods on social media, since someone could attempt to resell them.

Anyone with information that could help police track down the equipment or the perpetrators can contact the Regina Police Service or Crime Stoppers.