Thief Takes Girl’s ‘Wheels Of Freedom’

Carla and Joseph Ruddach have had a car stereo and a motorcycle stolen from in front of their house, but neither loss frustrated them as much as losing their 13-year-old daughter’s tricycle to thieves.

Krystal Ruddach, a bubbly Greenacres Junior High School student with cerebral palsy, used to ride the oversized tricycle with the other children in the neighborhood.

Now, without the tricycle, Krystal is forced to hobble around the yard on crutches or stay inside.

“That’s her wheels of freedom,” said sheriff’s Chaplain Keith Kirkingburg, who is working to help the Ruddachs replace the tricycle. “We don’t normally get involved with lost bikes, but this was a special case.”

Kirkingburg has spent the last couple of weeks calling area bicycle shops and charitable organizations hoping to locate a new tricycle, but has had no luck.

He is now asking the public for donations. The Ruddachs cannot afford to buy a new tricycle, which would cost more than $500.

“We’ll see what we can do,” Kirkingburg said. “Right now I don’t have any other resources I can go to.”

The Ruddachs discovered the tricycle was missing from their front yard on Aug. 16. It was stolen sometime the previous night.

“I always put it in the front so it was easier for me to get to,” Krystal said. “We have no idea who took it.”

The blue and green tricycle was an adult model, equipped with special pedals that held Krystal’s feet in place while she rode. Carla Ruddach says it should have been obvious to whoever stole the tricycle that it was used by a handicapped person. That’s what irritates her the most.

“This is the only thing we’ve (reported stolen),” Carla Ruddach said. “The other things didn’t mean that much.”

She searched garage sales and used bicycle shops before noticing the tricycle parked in someone’s yard about two years ago. It wasn’t for sale, but Carla Ruddach convinced the owner, who was not using the tricycle, to sell it.

“I’d been looking for one forever,” Carla Ruddach said. “We needed it to exercise her legs.”

She has not been able to find another used tricycle, but remains hopeful that someone will return Krystal’s to their front yard.

“I don’t even need to know (who stole it),” Carla Ruddach said.

Krystal echoed her mother’s sentiments.

“Whoever took it, I miss it,” she said shyly. “I want it back.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: Donations can be sent to Spokane County Chaplain Services, 1121 W. Gardner, Spokane, WA 99201. Kirkingburg asked that donors send checks.