A trike stolen from a Kelowna man with special needs was returned after a member of the public saw the thief and asked him to return it.
Ronald D. Vaselenak said he was “sick” when his son Keegan’s trike was removed from a protective cage outside his home near downtown at around 4:30 am on Thursday.
It was the second time Keegan, 24, with CHARGE syndrome, lost a trike to thieves.
Ronald, who is himself a paraplegic, appealed in hopes the nearly $ 1,000 trike could be found, but as the days passed, there seemed little chance of his return.
But on Sunday, software engineer Landon Bradshaw saw what he thought was Keegan’s trike on Lawrence Avenue – and went out to get it back.
“[The man who had the trike] I rode a different bike, ”said Landon, who got on his own bike to catch up with and speak to him.
“He said, ‘Wait a minute. Why are you doing this?’ He wanted to know more about why I felt I was entitled to the trike. “
Landon, whose wife Keegan knows, then explained who the trike belonged to.
“When I told him he was fine,” Landon said, adding that he and the man exchanged names and clumped fists. “It was more about two people just talking to each other and trying to do something right – instead of confronting each other [him] and cause trouble. “
Landon, who rescued three motorcycles in similar situations earlier this year, emphasized that this was of particular concern in Keegan’s case because “it is a real mobility problem”.
Ronald meanwhile said it was “unreal” to have the trike back – and is happy to tell Keegan.
“We live in a great community,” said Ronald. “Of course you’ll still get negative people, but it’s a great place.
“It was great to see that the man who took it was ready to give up the bike. Some criminals still have hearts I think. “
But Landon wasn’t the only person helping – some friends of the Vaselenaks surprised Keegan with a trike they bought in Penticton as a consolation for the theft.
“I already left a message for you that we found you – the Penticton will now return,” said Ronald.
Landon, meanwhile, has voiced concerns about bike safety in the city.
A keen cyclist himself, he urged bike owners to buy secure locks – not cables, but padlocks and other more sturdy equipment.
“I don’t want to blame the victim, but it’s best not to make it easy for at least someone to take a bike with them,” he said, also recommending the Project 529 bike protection site.
He also stated that being polite was an effective technique on the other occasions when he was collecting bicycles.
“I don’t approach them and I am controversial,” he said. “I approach them as I would any other person.
“Someone said, ‘Why are you banging your fist against these scraps?’ I say anger doesn’t work. We failed with the war on drugs – maybe compassion is an easier and cheaper way of doing things? “
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