Mobility car stolen at charity jumble sale

A 12-year-old disabled girl’s mobility car was stolen at a fund-raising event organised by her brother.

The vehicle used to get Elle Jakeman around was taken as her brother, Ben, held a jumble sale to fund a school trip to do community work in poverty-stricken Ecuador.

Mum Julie was helping at the event at St Thomas’s Church Hall, Glebe Lane, on Saturday when her car keys and mobile phone were swiped from her coat pocket.

Elle has a neuro-development disorder: “My little girl has Rett syndrome,” Julie explained. “She is quite severely disabled. She doesn’t talk, she doesn’t walk and she relies on us for her mobility, it is her car. I was absolutely gutted. It’s just so disappointing when you are in a community venue doing good work.”

The thief, who even spoke to Julie, struck just minutes after the jumble sale started.

She had hung up her coat and added: “Initially there were quite a few people. This man came in and he must have just gone through my pockets, taken my phone and my keys out.

“You can see him on the CCTV as he goes out looking at my phone and looking at the key to see which car it opens.”

Her black Volvo was spotted a day later by neighbours on the car park at the Bull’s Head, Moorside. It is not believed to have been damaged. Police have been carrying out forensic tests. The thief is described as white, medium build and was wearing a grey hoodie with a logo on the front and blue jeans.

Crompton House pupil Ben raised £135 at the jumble sale to help fund a school trip to Ecuador with Camps International.

Julie, a mental-health nurse from Moorside, said: “The school is hoping to take 25 young people to Ecuador in 2013 but they have to raise funds because when they get there they are expected to take part in community projects like building roads and helping young people to learn English.

“Each pupil has to raise £4,300. The school will help with some of that and do events with larger groups, but individuals have to show commitment to raise funds themselves.”

People with information about the theft should call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.