Bike fitted for special needs girl stolen from front porch on north side

SAN ANTONIO — For 20-year-old Sasi Veldt, riding her bike to meet up with friends or hang out with her family is one of her favorite things to do.

Veldt is non-verbal and can't walk unassisted.

"She's, most interested in spending time with people, and the bike can be a conduit for that," said Mike Veldt, Sasi's dad. "It's one of the few things that she can do and be semi-independent and grow and go where she wants to go."

The bike is usually parked on their side porch, in front of their kitchen door at their northside home. It was there until two days ago when the Veldt's noticed it was missing.

"It's got to be a stranger," Veldt said. "It has very little use for anyone except for a special needs person. It was very disappointing. I can't understand. I think obviously, if anyone knew whose bike that was, it wouldn't happen.

The special needs bike is a lime-green tricycle. It has seat straps and a seat belt.

It's priceless for the Veldts who have moved continents with the bike.

"We got it about 12 years ago when we were living in Thailand," Veldt said. "Molly came home for her nephew's wedding, and just before Christmas that year, she brought it [the bike] back to northern Thailand. And Sasi rode it back and forth to school, for a year or two, and then we moved back to the US."

Replacing the bike now, one from the same brand, costs $2800.

The Veldt's have filed a police report.

"The thing I would like to tell people is, if you see something, say something about it," Veldt said." I really hope that somebody in the community can say something and that it shows back up."