Boys stole more than just a bike

Monday, September 8, 2003 9:51 AM CDT

You may have seen my husband, Dale, and daughter, Kaitlyn, in the West Racine Parade this summer.

This is one of several bike rides the two of them have done on their tandem (a bicycle built for two). There were many rides to the park, for ice cream, they even did a thirty-mile trip to Milwaukee to see grandma.

You might say that's nice, but what is so unusual about it? Well, Kaitlyn is a sweet lovable little girl with Down syndrome. Because of this she can't ride a bike like normal kids.

This bike allowed Katie to ride like any other kid, and she loved it. You might have seen them riding around town, doing errands or just having fun. The bike was unique and was set up just for her, it was a sky blue Burley Samba tandem with yellow handle bar tape. It had a white bike rack, a pink Barbie radio, a pink wicker basket and a yellow troll horn.

You can imagine our shock and sadness when someone came into our garage and took it. When we realized the bike was gone, we asked our neighbors if any of them had noticed anything. Fortunately one of them said he saw two young boys, about 11 to 13, walking with the bike when he was jogging the previous evening. He didn't know it was our bike but let us know that the boys had turned south on Kentucky Street and were headed to the apartments on Durand Ave.

A message to the boys who stole the bike, you might have thought you were going to take it for a joy ride or whatever, you stole more than a bike, you stole a special little girl's freedom and opportunity to just ride a bike and be a normal little girl.

Our plea to the parents of these boys to do them a favor and teach them right from wrong and have them return it.

Anyone else who might see this bicycle, please call the Racine Police Department 635-7756 and refer to case # 03-58238.

Kaitlyn would love to have her bike back and would be forever grateful.

Thank you,

Vicki Barke

Racine

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