Company Steps In To Help After Disabled Child's Wheelchair Stolen In Elizabeth

ELIZABETH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- There is outrage in a New Jersey neighborhood after someone stole a child's wheelchair.

Mom Keeley Pacheco told CBS2's Elise Finch her son Andrew doesn't like to be carried around, but she doesn't have a choice because a thief made off with his wheelchair Tuesday morning as she was getting him ready for school at their home in Elizabeth.

"I usually park it up my driveway, I don't want to come up and down the stairs with him in it. So I left it there, just a few minutes passed, I come back down and it's gone," she said. "I was actually very shocked that someone would take a medical use chair."

Andrew has Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, better known as CDLS. The genetic disorder causes physical and developmental delays.

Even though he's 5 years old, Andrew is the size of a 2-year-old, Finch reported. He only says a few words and can't walk yet.

"The wheelchair is, he's very dependent on it. He rides in it to school. Anytime we're out or going anywhere he's in it -- sitting at the table in a restaurant or in the park," Pacheco said.

Folks in the neighborhood said they're outraged that someone would steal a disabled child's wheelchair.

"Either the person had to be on drugs or that person is a real low-life person. I just can't imagine anybody doing that to an innocent kid like that," said Elizabeth resident Peter Pisano.

Through social media, the company that makes the wheelchair, Convaid, found out about Andrew. A spokesperson told CBS2 they're in the process of outfitting a new one for him for free.

And that's no small contribution. The chairs can cost between $2,500 and $4,000 each.

Andrew's mother said she's thrilled about the donation, but she still wants her son's chair back.

"If by chance it does get returned, I definitely want to pay it forward, give it to someone else if they need it, donate it," she said.

Andrew's new wheelchair should arrive next week.

And as if the theft wasn't bad enough, the family just found out someone is using their name to collect money under the guise of buying Andrew a new wheelchair.

The family is not collecting money and warned people against contributing to any funds on their behalf.