ROMULUS (WXYZ) — A quadriplegic man became a target for thieves when several dirt bikes were stolen from his garage in Romulus. Collecting the bikes were more than just a hobby, it is a way for Todd Hammons to bond with his family.
Thieves allegedly came through a window in a garage and stole seven dirt bikes all sitting in a row while Hammons, the homeowner, was sound asleep. They may have stolen the bikes but they haven’t taken away his passion.
Hammons is devastated after learning that seven of the eight dirt bikes in his garage were stolen.
“Crazy, heartbreaking,” he said.
Thieves took the bikes that were locked by a cable, a chainsaw and some tools early on Thursday, April 4.
“I grew up racing, riding," Hammons said. "That’s my father’s passion as well.”
Hammons rode dirt bikes competitively before a diving accident left him paralyzed 30 years ago. Now, he is living vicariously through other family members, including his 5-year-old grandson.
“We enjoy it, that’s what we all enjoy,” Hammons said.
So how did thieves steal the bikes? Hammons tells Action News the thieves parked a moving van at the end of Homefield Street near his garage. Hammons' bedroom is on the other end of the house and he didn’t hear anything, sleeping through the incident.
“I noticed I had a phone call from my neighbor (at) 2 a.m.,” he explained. “(I) called him and said he saw a U-Haul truck in the middle of the night.”
Another neighbor’s surveillance camera shows video of a moving van driving towards Hammons' house and leaving an hour later.
In less than 24 hours, he found one of the bikes for sale on Facebook. He recognized it because of the stickers he put on it.
Hammons says it’s a $5,000 bike and the seller is asking for at least $850 cash.
As Romulus police investigate, Hammons is hoping Action News viewers will keep their eyes open for his prized possessions.
“I just want try to locate these bikes and see what we can do to get them back to my family,” he said.
