Theft, quick recovery of wheelchair-accessible SUV stuns Windsor family

Did the thiefwho took the Marchant family's MV-1 minivanknow how special the vehicle is?

TheMV-1 is one ofthe only purpose-built wheelchair-accessible automobileson the market today.

The Marchant family says they were dismayed when it went missing Thursday morning. But by the end of the day, they say the car had been found by police and the vehicle was returned to the Marchants on Friday.

Chatham-Kent police say they responded to a vehicle parked by the Thames River on Thursday evening that they confirmed had beenstolen from Windsor. Officers arrested a 28-year-old man occupying the vehicle who they say was in possession of numerous bank cards.

The man was charged withpossession of stolen property under $5,000 and resisting arrest. Police say an investigation is ongoing and may result in more charges.

Accessible SUV a 'lifeline' for Luke Marchant

"It's specifically made for wheelchairs. It's not a retrofit or a modified vehicle" explained Winton Marchant, the vehicle's owner.

Marchant bought the large white SUVabout three years ago to improve the life quality of his sonLuke, 27, who was born with spinal muscular atrophy. The condition is progressively degenerative, and Marchant requires a wheelchair at all times.

Marchant says the vehicle has been a "lifeline" for his son.

That's why the family says they were shocked and disappointed to discover on Thursday morning the vehiclewas missing from their driveway.

"At the end of the day, people like that have always existed and will always exist," Luke Marchant said. "We are unfortunate to be the victims this time, but it will be someone else tomorrow."

Winton Marchantsays he believes the vehicle was taken sometime between midnight and 6 a.m.

He immediately reported the theft to police, andalso posted on Facebook, asking users to be on the lookout for the rare van.

"Maybe someone thought it was a cool vehicle, a neat vehicle," Winton Marchant wondered.

By Thursday afternoon, one Facebook user posted about spotting a whiteMV-1 with matching plateson eastbound Highway 401, outside of Windsor.

On Thursday evening, Marchanttold CBC police in Chatham-Kent had located the vehicle and arrested a man.

Mobility Ventures SUV highly unique

Manufactured by the company Mobility Ventures, thevehicle has anextra-boxy, spacious design ideal for peopleusing wheelchairs.

A unique feature is that it allowswheelchairs to be secured in the front-passenger position.

"It feels a lot better than riding in the back, I'll tell you that," said Luke Marchant.

Luke Marchant said he's grateful for the support and actionof the online community. "People have been contacting us with updates, sending us well-wishes. It's very kind of them."

Accessible transportation 'essential'

Leigh Vachon, executive director of Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario, said hearing of such a theft inspires an "almost visceral reaction" in her, because she knows how essentialconvenient, reliable, and accessibletransportation is for those with disabilities.

"People with disabilities are encountering obstacles to their full enjoyment of all of their activities," Vachon said. "This is not just another car. This is so integral to how (the Marchants) live and how they enjoy life together as a family."

While the Marchantsare grateful their vehiclehas been recovered, they were ready to stay positive even if it wasn't.

"We have a lot to be thankful for, and every family's been through a lot in life," Winton said.

Luke said the theft is just part of life.

"You experience things, things go poorly, and then things go well, and then things go poorly. I'm sure in a few short days, things will go well again, one way or another."