A specially adapted wheelchair for a five-year-old boy has been stolen by burglars.
The £1,000 chair was in one of two cars taken from outside the Thompson family home in Wickhurst Road, Portslade.
The family, which includes three children, realised that they had been burgled at about 7.45am on Wednesday (12 January).
One of the vehicles taken was a work van with Sky branding.
It was found in Furze Hill, Hove, and has been returned.
The other was a black Volvo V50 with the number plate GU58 PWZ.
It contained five-year-old Tommy Thompson’s black Action Junior 3 chair which has small grey wheels, like pram wheels, and a small seat.
Detective Constable Rowan Carter said: “This was a very distressing experience for the whole family.
“I would urge anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area between 10:30pm on Tuesday 11 January and 7.45am on Wednesday 12 January to please get in contact with the police.
“The family are very keen that the wheelchair is returned to their son, who waited four months for it to arrive and only had use of it for a month before the burglary.”
Cash – included money raised to hep Tommy – and several bank cards were also stolen.
Tommy suffers from Sanfilippop syndrome, a neurological condition which, among other things, affects his hips and is expected to mean a shortened life expectancy.
Anyone who saw anything suspicious or who has information about the burglary is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
