A reprehensible act unfolded recently in the heart of Texas. Two men, brazenly committing their deed in broad daylight, took advantage of an 87-year-old man, absconding with his costly wheelchair scooter. The crime, caught on security camera footage, paints a distressing picture of misplaced trust and moral erosion.
In April, Bob Woods, an elderly resident of Irving, Texas, was enjoying a peaceful evening cleaning his rifles on his caretaker’s porch. The caretaker, Amanda Rodriguez, had briefly left home to collect her child from soccer practice. In her absence, two unidentified men seized the opportunity and approached Woods, feigning goodwill.
Two male suspects can be seen on surveillance video stealing a motorized wheelchair and two airsoft guns from an 87-year-old victim. https://t.co/fY5vy6HlNh
— KENS 5 (@KENS5) August 3, 2023
The pair proposed a deal to Woods, offering $1,200 for his rifles and electric scooter, promising to return later with the money. Trusting their words, the older man let them take the items. However, the men vanished, leaving behind an empty promise and a man deprived of his trust and primary mode of mobility. Woods recalled the incident to KTVT-TV: “I trusted them, but then they took it and they left, and they didn’t pay me back.”
Rodriguez, upon her return, promptly noticed the crime. Her security cameras had recorded parts of the crime, which she used to file a police report and share images of the culprits on X, formerly Twitter. She hoped that someone in the community could identify them.
The Irving Police Department has since released a video that shows the two men loading the scooter into their maroon-colored pickup truck. The authorities are urging the public to share any information that may help identify the perpetrators.
The loss of the $4,500 scooter was not only a financial blow to Woods but also severely impacted his daily mobility. Now, the elderly man struggles for independence and freedom of movement.
This distressing incident underscores the vulnerability of our elderly citizens and the importance of communal vigilance in protecting them. Rodriguez voiced her despair, asking, “How are you going to sit there and take advantage of an elderly man?” Her words echo those who champion respect for our elders and condemn the cowardice displayed by the culprits.
Communities across Texas and the nation are called to foster empathy and respect, particularly toward the most susceptible among us. Justice for Bob Woods depends on the community’s collective effort and commitment to upholding shared values. The Irving police continue to request information regarding the suspects to bring them to account and restore a sense of security and trust in the community.
