BROCKTON, Mass. – Police have recovered an accessible van that was stolen over the weekend from a Brockton mother whose son has physical disabilities.
On Tuesday night, Sandra Tavares’ van sits in front of her house again, where it belongs. “I feel happy, but also, I can’t even describe how I feel,” says Tavares.
His van was not found as he had left it. “That looks like it’s damaged as well because usually when you open it, it goes down,” Tavares says.
Boston 25 News brought you the story in 2016 when Sandra’s son, Nayden Navares, who was two years old at the time, was hit by a car that left him unable to walk. Now too old to carry, Sandra relies on the van to take him to his doctor’s appointments.
“The van is everything to us because Nayden is everything to us, so without the van we can’t move,” says Tavares.
Nayden, 8, can’t speak, but Tavares says he showed his excitement in other ways for the van to return.
“It made me smile so I’m sure when he sees the van outside, he’s going to be very happy, so that’s what matters to me,” Tavares says.
On Saturday morning, he left the van running to get inside and get the wallet. When he came out, the van was gone. His surveillance video captured people in hoodies opening the door before the video stopped. Brockton police say a patrol officer found the van Monday evening within a 2-mile radius of Sandra’s home while searching neighborhoods in the Grove Street area.
“I don’t want them to do it to other people. I want them to stop. You have to feel safe to leave your things open or leave the door open,” says Tavares.
Brockton police interviewed residents in the area where the van was found, but no arrests have been made yet.
Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to call Brockton police.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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