Thieves steal wheelchair, car seat worth $50,000 from special needs boy,15

Thieves in Illinois made off with $50,000 worth of gear belonging to a special needs 15 year-old and his mother.

In Blue Island, Alicia Rodriguez is the sole provider for her disabled son Aidan Beltran, 15, who requires a specialized wheelchair to get to doctors' appointments.

The custom fitted wheelchair is worth $30,000 and was recently stolen when Alicia's car was snatched during the middle of the night from in front of her house that has a ramp leading up to it.

A custom car seat that was in the vehicle is worth $19,000. 

Alicia is unable to work because she cares for Aidan around the clock, so getting a new wheelchair, let alone car and custom car seat for her son will be a major challenge.

Aidan, 15, who has cerebral palsy, Noonan syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, inversion of chromosome 19, and autism

'He has cerebral palsy, Noonan syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, inversion of chromosome 19, and he also has autism,' said Rodriguez.

She said it 'hurts' her that his wheelchair is now gone because 'it's for him to get in and out of the doctor's.'

Over the course of his short life, Aidan has already undergone 30 surgeries. He is also in diapers and cannot dress himself, according to his mother.

Security footage shows someone driving off in the middle of the night with the family's Hyundai Elantra, which was parked in a handicapped spot in front of the house.

'That was my transportation for him,' Rodriguez said. 'The car seat is like $19,000. The wheelchair is almost close to $30,000 - it's a special made for him.'

'I'm a single parent. I have no help,' she continued, adding that she believes whoever took the car knew the specialized wheelchair and car seat inside the vehicle were needed, but did not care.

'I hope you can live with yourself,' she said, directing her sentiments toward the thieves.

Alicia Rodriguez (right) with her son Aidan (left). She is a single mother and sole caretaker of her disabled son

Shattered glass in front of the family's home, where their car was stolen out of a handicapped spot

Still from footage of the family's 2019 Hyundai Elantra being stolen in the middle of the night

Images of the family's GoFundMe page that was established in order to get Aidan a new wheelchair and carseat

Alicia is a single mother who is Aidan's sole caretaker, which makes it hard for her to hold down steady employment

A GoFundMe was set up to help Alicia repurchase a wheelchair and specialized car seat for Aidan.

The page says that Alicia is currently 'unable to transport him (Aidan) to his medical appointments without these items.'

'As a single mother, it is already challenging for Alicia to make ends meet, and it is difficult for her to maintain employment due to Aidan's needs.'

'She does not have the resources to purchase another vehicle,' it continues.

The page has so far raised about $6,200 of its $18,000 goal.