Girl’s Wheelchair Taken During School Break-In

A wheelchair that was to give an 8-year-old girl with cerebral palsy more independence was stolen from her Tarzana school over the Thanksgiving holiday break.

Alexandria Simon had had the $5,000 customized wheelchair for only three days when it was taken -- along with computers and audio equipment -- during a burglary at Wilbur Avenue Elementary School.

“It absolutely has to be replaced,” said Christine Simon, Alexandria’s mother, who teaches special education at the school. “One of our goals is to train her how to use a wheelchair so she can be more independent.”

Although Alexandria can walk with a cane, the wheelchair would help her cross campus by herself without becoming exhausted, her mother said,

Simon said her daughter was still learning to use the wheelchair when it was stolen.

The wheelchair was in Christine Simon’s classroom, one of six classrooms at the school that were broken into. It was the school’s second burglary in as many weeks, officials said. Classroom doors were damaged during both break-ins.

A few portable stereos were taken in the first burglary. But the second time, in addition to the wheelchair, two computers, five stereos, a karaoke machine and computer software worth about $7,000 were stolen, said Principal Dave Hirsch. There are no suspects in either incident, officials say.

The computers, donated by a parent, were in Simon’s classroom. Each computer was equipped with a motion- and light-sensor that emits a loud shrill alarm, but doesn’t notify law enforcement.

Members of the school’s PTA and Booster Club said they are brainstorming about possible fund-raisers to help the family, Hirsch said. The Simons’ health insurance company hasn’t sent a bill yet, but Simon estimates she will have to pay half of the wheelchair’s $5,000 price tag. Since the chair was registered with the Los Angeles Unified School District, Simon plans to file a claim with the district.

Two elementary schools about six miles from Wilbur have been either burglarized or vandalized in the past two weeks, said school district Police Lt. Michael Bowman. School police don’t yet know if the incidents are connected.

“Nobody ever thinks about what happens when someone comes into a classroom and takes something. It really demoralizes the teachers and the kids,” he said.