Overnight at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis, thieves pulled off a costly and targeted burglary that hit one of Indiana's newest accessibility programs right where it hurts.
Between 9 p.m. April 30 and 6 a.m. May 1, unknown suspects forced their way into six Indiana Department of Natural Resources buildings at the park and stole two AXIS Model 30 all-terrain track chairs along with two Vietnam War era helmets, officials said. The track chairs were part of a new statewide rollout designed to let visitors with limited mobility explore rugged trails. Park law-enforcement leaders have put up a $5,500 reward for information that leads to recovery of the stolen gear and arrests in the case.
The chairs were among 45 units the state purchased this spring as part of a roughly $1 million program funded by the Lilly Endowment, and each unit is valued at about $20,000, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle. Officials unveiled the fleet in March as a free service at every Indiana state park, and disability advocates called the effort a major accessibility upgrade.
What officials say
"We're hoping that by getting the word out that maybe someone will come forward," DNR Law Enforcement Capt. Jet Quillen said. He noted that the missing chairs are black and orange, built with large tracks, and are not exactly the kind of thing that blends into a garage, as reported by WIBC. Investigators believe the helmets were taken along with the chairs and are now following leads, and Quillen urged anyone with information to contact conservation officers.
Why the chairs matter
The track chairs are electric, all-terrain wheelchairs that let people with limited mobility travel off-trail and over rough ground, opening up more of the state parks' trails and beaches to visitors who might otherwise be sidelined. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources lists details about the types of chairs and where they are available on its accessibility page.
How to report tips
Tips can be directed to the Indiana Conservation Officers Dispatch Center at 812-837-9536 or by email at [email protected]. The agency is offering a $5,500 reward, which includes $5,000 from a private donor and $500 from the Indiana Parks Alliance, for information that leads to recovery of the track chairs and helmets, per the Indiana Capital Chronicle. Authorities are asking anyone who may have noticed suspicious activity near Fort Harrison between April 30 and May 1 to come forward.
