Culprit 'fesses up to theft of trikes

An apologetic 14-year-old, escorted by his angry father, visited Glen Lucky on Tuesday night to admit his part in the theft of Lucky's custom-made adult tricycles he uses as part of his therapy for cerebral palsy.

"They said they are very sorry about what happened," said the 53-year-old Lucky, who can be seen almost daily pedaling through Carson City and North Douglas County with a trailer of business signs in tow.

"But I'm still going to press charges," Lucky said.

Sunday morning both of Lucky's trikes were missing from the side of his Indian Hills home. The older bike was found a block away, bent and missing a tire. The newer one had been tossed over a fence and tumbled down a hill overlooking the highway. One of its tires also missing.

"It was a rude awakening," he said of the discovery. "I went outside and my mouth hit the ground and my heart skipped a beat a couple times."

Lucky said police and his family believed the culprits might be teens in the neighborhood. The theory was verified Tuesday when one in the group voluntarily went to the sheriff's department and filled out a report. It was after the admission to police that the boy showed up at Lucky's house.

"His dad was really mad," Lucky said. "He said he'd pay for the damages."

Douglas County Sgt. Tom Mezzetta said four suspects have been identified.

The older bike was a quick fix, so Lucky has some transportation right now. But his newer bike, bought with funds raised by the community, has to have its damaged parts special ordered and won't be ready for a couple more weeks.

The whole event leaves the usually smiling Lucky with one question.

"I want to know why they did it," he said. "What were they thinking?"

When Lucky asked the boy, the teenager's answer didn't help - he said he didn't know why.

n Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.