Disabled Tulsa Man Says Bike Thieves Stole His Freedom

A disabled Tulsa man relies on his bike - with a motor he built - to get his groceries and medicine, but someone has stolen Stephen Ross' only means of transportation.

He said the thieves didn't just take his property - they took his freedom.

Ross said he bought the bike from Walmart and a motor from eBay. He used the motorized bike to get groceries and medicine.

"I spent all winter building it," he said." In March or April I finally broke it out, filled it with gas, broke it in."

"Everyone in the apartment saw me riding it. I always rode it two times around the apartment before I got on the road."

He went out one morning, and the bike was gone. He is optimistic that he will someday get it back.

"It's too individual of a bike. Everybody knows the bike, it has those saddle bags in the back," he said. "It has orange trim on the saddle bags. It's very very noticeable."

He used the bike to get groceries and medicine. He said he built it and he wants it back. 

"I need it, I can't afford to build another one. It was the only bit of freedom that I had," he said.

"I don't do anything malicious or anything. I just ride my bike to the store. I think it was pretty low of someone to take my bike. I don't know if they knew I was partially disabled. I would really appreciate you returning my bike," he said.