By Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Police are on the hunt for a bandit who made off with a disabled dad's wheelchair.
The suspect stole a motorized wheelchair that had been left on the sidewalk outside of the Palm Too restaurant at 840 Second Avenue by a 68-year-old man who was eating dinner inside, police said. The vehicle was stolen between 7:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday July 20, police said.
The victim had suffered a stroke and is disabled, a source said.
The wheelchair — a blue and black model "Jet 3 Ultra" made by Pride — is still missing, police said.
Kathy Turley, director of marketing for the Palm Restaurant Group, said the man had been a regular at the Palm Too before recently moving to Florida.
"When this guest arrived, we were not informed that he'd left it [the wheelchair] outside," she said.
Had they known, they would have stored it in the coat check, she said. Nobody had noticed it was missing until the man had finished his meal and went outside.
"We certainly hope he gets it back," she said.
Police have released a photo of the suspect, who is described as a white or Hispanic male between 25 and 30 years old, with short, dark hair. He is pictured wearing a long-sleeved, collared blue shirt, light-colored pants and white sneakers.
Police are treating the crime as a Grand Larceny.
