‘It is my everything’: Mother of son with physical disabilities desperately searching for stolen van

BROCKTON, Mass — For Sandra Tavares, her red Toyota Sienna is more than just a van, it’s specifically designed to meet the needs of her 8-year-old son who can’t walk.

“That car is like my hands and my legs, it is my everything because we have a lot of doctor’s appointments,” says Tavares.

In 2016, Boston 25 News told you about Tavares’s son who was 2 years old at the time when he was hit by a car leaving him with physical disabilities.

“Life changed big time,” says Tavares.

Through hard work, Tavares says she was able to buy the van, but on Saturday morning Tavares says someone stole it after she left it running in front of her home to go inside and grab something. She’s hoping her surveillance camera will help the police catch whoever did it.

“It’s sad. I thought it was a dream when I saw the place empty with no car there. I didn’t think people would steal the car early in the morning because the sun is already out,” says Tavares.

She wants whoever took her van to know, she doesn’t mean any harm to them, she just needs it back for her son.

“I am hoping whoever took the car, please put it somewhere, say something so I can get that car back. I can’t do anything without that car,” says Tavares.

Brockton Police are investigating the theft. In the meantime, the license plate number on Tavares’s van is 1MNM47. Please call the police if you have any information.

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