Police want the public’s help in locating a suspect who stole a toy car that belongs to a girl with cerebral palsy.
A witness reported seeing a man and a young boy stealing the ride-on toy car from outside a home on Bourbon Circle in Barrie’s southeast end on Saturday night.
Barrie police say the boy was seen getting onto the car and driving away, while the man followed from behind.
The suspect is described as a white man, 5’8” with a medium build. He was seen wearing a light blue t-shirt and long shorts. The boy he was with is believed to be between four and five years old.
“She is not able to walk on her own and requires a power wheelchair and to change it up a bit, we'd bought her an escalade so when her friends are riding their bikes, she can feel like she is doing something as well,” says Denise Fogarty, Hilary’s mother.
For the last two days, she could only sit on her porch while her friends and younger brother played.
“I want my car,” the 10 year old said with tears running down her face.
Hilary’s sister says whoever did this has taken away her independence.
“She wants to do everything like everyone else does. She doesn’t want other people pushing her in her stroller or wheelchair,” says Meghan Fogarty-Gray.
The car typically isn’t parked outside. The family normally stores it in their garage, but the door was broken.
After an outpouring of support from the community, Toys 'R' Us is in talks with the family to have a new car given to Hilary.
