‘Lifeline’ car stolen from family with high-needs son
A car that is a ‘‘necessity’’ for a Taranaki family with a disabled son will most likely be unusable after it was stolen, taken on a joyride to flee police, and dumped.
Nathan and Fran Jones had been borrowing the Mazda Demio from friends as a runaround for when their high-needs son Nash, and wheelchair-modified van, are with his caregiver.
But the car was stolen on Tuesday last week from the caregiver’s house in Merrilands, New Plymouth, and found less than 24 hours later near the TSB Stadium, dinged up with a smashed window and wrecked ignition.
‘‘I’d say it’ll be written off,’’ Nathan said. ‘‘But we’ve just got to have that second car. It’s part of what we need for Nash.’’
The 4-year-old has Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, which is caused by a mutation of genes and results in kidney issues, physical and mental disabilities, and bring on self-mutilating behaviours.
While Nash is a smiling ‘‘darling’’, who calls his 6-year-old brother Quinn his best friend, he is bound to a wheelchair, and had his teeth removed in the last year to stop him biting the inside of his cheeks.
He has to be watched at all times, as the self-harming tendencies are something that he can’t control.
Caring for Nash is Fran’s fulltime job, and her only downtime is when he is with his carer, which is why she calls the car a ‘‘lifeline’’.
‘‘He has to have the van all the time.’’
Now, Fran can only go walking distance on her small break from Nash, and the family have to find the time and money to buy a new car.
‘‘I can’t work. We have a limited income,’’ she said. ‘‘And it’s not like we have time on our hands.’’ Nathan added.
‘‘Even now, we have to run around and get another car. It’s a necessity.’’
In the early hours of Wednesday, the police knocked at the Jones’ door telling them the car had been spotted being driven erratically and did not stop when pursued by police.
Its whereabouts were unknown until a member of the public told the Joneses where to find it last Wednesday night.
They were ‘‘gutted’’ to learn it was most likely a wreck.
Last year, Mazda cars, such as Demios and Familias, were being targeted by New Plymouth youths.
On Thursday last week, Taranaki area prevention manager Inspector Darin Haenga said while there had been that ‘‘spate’’ of thefts, it had slowed down in recent months. But, Haenga said there was still the ‘‘odd’’ theft.
The Joneses know there was a chance their situation is isolated, but wanted to speak out – even if they just help one person. ‘‘People need to be cautious,’’ Fran said. ‘‘Go get a steering wheel lock or something.’’