Daughter seeks mom’s stolen handicapped-accessible van
SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (WISH) – A daughter is asking for the public’s help after her mother’s handicapped-accessible van was stolen from her driveway.
A cooler and dog crate were left behind after thieves targeted 81-year-old Myrna Asher’s home off State Road 44 near Shelbyville between 11 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Monday.
Kristi Asher, Myrna’s daughter, told News 8 the maroon 2003 Ford Econoline van was her mother’s main means of transportation.
“I told myself I wouldn’t get emotional,” said Kristi. “It’s very perplexing to me why somebody would steal a van like that. Like, who would do that?”
Asher said the scary part is the family still has the keys to the van; they believe the thieves might have hot-wired the vehicle to steal it.
“We found out that a backpack and bag that had been in it were thrown out about four miles from the house,” said Kristi. “You have to know how to use the lift and it might have been frustrating. Actually, what we’re hoping is that they got frustrated and might have dumped the van somewhere.”
Hoping for some help, Kristi turned to Facebook.
“It’s gotten over 1,000 shares on Facebook,” said Asher. “Then we heard from you guys (News 8), and my sister and I were like, ‘I guess humankind isn’t that bad; we just have a couple bad apples.’”
Kristi described the van as having:
- Indiana license plate 638FCF
- A dent in the left rear bumper
- A sticker on the side that reads “Stand back 10 feet”
While Kristi said her mother’s van is worth about $20,000, the vehicle is priceless in the eyes of their family.
“That van means more to us than it does to (the thieves),” said Kristi. “It’s worth a lot more to us because of being able to transport our mother; they would never be able to get the value out of it that we would.”
Kristi said her sister also uses the van for dog training.
The van had dog crates and a canine flyball box inside, so Kristi has asked that anyone who sees those items pop up for sale should be aware they could be from the stolen van.
Kristi said the family has not started a GoFundMe to replace the vehicle because they hope the thieves bring back the vehicle.
If you know anything about this incident, contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 317-392-6345.
