Manitoba

Owner of unique trike feels 'violated' after it was stolen

With the sun shining and the snow melted, Yvonne Summers was looking forward to hopping on her adult trike for a cycle around her Winnipeg neighbourhood.

Yvonne Summers uses the trike after a brittle bone condition led to 4 hip replacements

A Winnipeg woman is searching for her unique Manhattan one-speed adult trike which was stolen from her St. James backyard early Monday morning. (Elisha Dacey/Facebook)

With the sun shining and the snow melted, Yvonne Summers was looking forward to hopping on her adult trike for a cycle around her Winnipeg neighbourhood.

But the first night she brought it out for the season it was stolen from her St. James backyard.

"You feel violated," Summers said.

Exercise that doesn't put weight on her joints is important to Summers. She has a brittle bone condition which has resulted in multiple hip replacements.

"I like to always ride a bike and I've had four hip surgeries, and since I've had my surgeries I was not comfortable to try and ride a two-wheeler anymore," she said.

While she walks with a cane or a walker, Summers purchased the three-wheel bicycle in 2010 for nearly $600 to get some extra exercise. Each summer she stored it in her shed, but this past winter she kept it on her deck covered in tarps.

On Sunday evening, she removed the tarps to prepare for a ride this week. She said she figured it would be fine sitting for one night since her yard is fenced and you can't see the deck from the back lane.

However, around 2 a.m. on Monday morning a sensor light went off in the backyard.

"My mom had looked out the window actually and said the light was on … and the bike was gone," Summers said.

The unique Manhattan one-speed adult trike was reported stolen to police and Summers' niece also put out a call on social media hoping someone might spot it, Summers said. She's not sure yet if she will replace the trike and is still hoping that maybe it will be returned.

"It's a very distinct bike and easily spotted," Summers said.