Wheelchair ramp stolen from outside home of Indianapolis brothers

Ramp stolen overnight

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Posted: 10/03/2012
Last Updated: 259 days ago

Stacia Matthews | Email Me
TheIndyChannel.com Staff

INDIANAPOLIS - Two brothers on Indianapolis' near-west side had no way to leave their home Wednesday after their wheelchair ramp was stolen overnight, police said.

Officers were called to a home in the 1800 block of West Maryland Street just after 5 a.m.

Raymond Garner, 49, who uses a wheelchair, told police that someone stole his aluminum folding ramp overnight.

"It's hard enough to get around in life and somebody steals the one thing that can get you in and out the door... pretty sad. Pretty sad," Garner said.

Garner and his brother, Dennis Garner, who also uses a wheelchair, live in the home together, and the ramp was their only way to get in and out.

The ramp, which measures 8 feet by 40 feet, cost $600, Dennis Garner, said.

The brothers suspect someone pawned it or sold it for scrap at one of the nearby metal recycling centers, but Indianapolis Metro Police said at this stage of their investigation, nothing points to that.

Police offered resources to help the Garners get a temporary ramp, but the brothers ended up getting much more.

Kent McCool, who specializes in home modifications, stepped in after hearing about the robbery.

"It was terrible to hear what happened," McCool said. "We've got some resources and a network of other businesses that we work with, so I would like to try to help them out as best we can."

McCool and his team, who provide ramps for the state, will be building $4,000 permanent ramp made of wood in front of the home to give the brothers safe and easy access.

"I hope within the next week to have a solution for them," he said.

The thieves also took an aluminum screen door.

Indianapolis , IN

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