A Long Island mother says her wheelchair was stolen at a New York Mets game, leaving her stranded at the ballpark and struggling for months afterward, until 7 On Your Side stepped in.
Lori Halop of Elmont says she relies on a wheelchair due to a herniated disc and spinal stenosis. She and her husband, Keith, are raising two children, and the chair allows her to keep up with their busy lives.
Last summer, Halop took her daughter and her daughter's friends to a game at Citi Field. She says an usher offered to help by storing her wheelchair during the game.
"He said, 'You can store it right here behind this section,'" Halop said. "There was a big metal gate. We folded up the wheelchair, rolled it in behind the seats, he closed it and said, 'It's here. It's safe. I'm here.'"
But when the game ended, the wheelchair was gone.
"That person was standing there the whole evening," Keith Halop said. "Once the game was over and we saw the wheelchair wasn't there, it was quite a shock."
Lori Halop says she immediately questioned the usher.
"I said, 'Where's my wheelchair?' He said, 'What?' I said, 'It was right there.'"
A police report led to surveillance video showing a woman walking up, opening the gate and taking the wheelchair.
"She moved the gate, took the wheelchair and off she went," Halop said.
The theft left the family stranded after nearly everyone else had already left the stadium.
"Everyone else was gone," Halop said. "The whole stadium except for our little group."
Unable to get home without help, the Mets lent Halop a wheelchair kept at the stadium.
"He said, 'Take this with you. Hold onto it as long as you need,'" she said. "He gave me his card."
But Halop says the loaner chair was old and unstable, and getting a replacement through insurance didn't make financial sense. Her deductible was about $100, and a comparable wheelchair would cost roughly $300. When she contacted the Mets seeking reimbursement, she says the response stopped.
"He doesn't return my calls. He doesn't email me back. Nothing," Halop said of the manager of guest experience.
After months of struggling to get around and feeling stuck, Halop reached out to 7 On Your Side.
"I've seen you do amazing things for people," she said. "I knew if there was any way this would be fixed, you'd be able to do it."
After 7 On Your Side contacted the Mets, the situation changed quickly. Within about an hour, the team arranged for a brand-new wheelchair.
"This is it, bright, shiny, all of the pieces," Halop said. "It works. Hand brakes so I don't go screaming down the street."
The new wheelchair has been life-changing, she said.
"You gave me my life back," Halop said. "I don't want to sound dramatic, but it's true. I really was at a loss. I had nowhere to turn."
----------
SHARE YOUR STORY
Do you have an issue with a company that you haven't been able to resolve? If so, 7 On Your Side wants to help you!
Fill out the form below or email your questions, issues, or story ideas by filling out the form below or by emailing 7OnYourSideNina@abc.com. All emails MUST INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND CELLPHONE NUMBER. Without a phone number, 7 On Your Side will not be able to respond.