Thief steals wheelchair from South LA boy with cerebral palsy

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Arthur Day's smile says it all. But the 9-year-old's joy has turned to sorrow after a cold-hearted thief stole his treasured wheelchair.

"It's designed dynamically just for Arthur. It has his name on the back of it in blue," Arthur's father Kmond Day said.

The chair, which was custom fit to Arthur's body, allowed him to enjoy life, giving him freedom to move and relief from his constant pain.

Born premature with cerebral palsy and a long list of health issues, doctors told Arthur's parents he wouldn't survive. But Arthur proved to be a fighter with a heart of gold.

"He's just a loving, caring kid. Everybody in the building knows him. He just lights you up. He just lifts people up when they're down," Kmond Day said.

On Tuesday, his father went down to get the wheelchair, which for the last three years had been kept overnight in the lobby of their apartment complex at 120th Street and Vermont Avenue in South Los Angeles, and it was gone.

Those who enter the complex must have a key or be buzzed in. The Los Angeles Police Department was investigating the theft.

Arthur's family hopes the apartment's security cameras captured the suspect or suspects in action. They pleaded with the culprit to do the right thing.

"It's my son. As he was born handicap, I'm here specifically to take care of him. Bring my son's chair back please," Kmond Day said

Given how specialized the wheelchair is, Arthur's father says it would be very difficult to sell and says it belongs back with his son.

An ABC7 Eyewitness News viewer saw our promotion for this story and offered Arthur a wheelchair. Stay tuned for the developing story.