Disabled woman's motorized scooter stolen in Ronkonkoma

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. (WABC) -- A pair of cold-hearted thieves on Long Island stole a disabled woman's motorized scooter.

Police in the Suffolk County Hamlet of Ronkonkoma released video hoping someone will recognize the two suspects.

"The only thing I don't do is drive a car and sky dive," said Sheila Carpenter, the scooter's owner.

Carpenter doesn't let much get in her way.

Her electric scooter gives her the freedom to get around since she can't legally drive a car because of her epilepsy.

"My parents did a great job in raising me to believe that there's nothing I shouldn't do," Carpenter said.

Two weeks ago it disappeared from just behind her apartment building on Hawkins Avenue in Ronkonkoma.

"It was angled in here," Carpenter said.

Police say two men stole the scooter. The whole thing was caught by surveillance cameras. You can watch as they try to wheel it away, dropping it in the process.

"It amazes me how they came behind this six-foot fence. My feeling is it had to be somebody who is privy to this. It's a private area," Carpenter said.

The bike is not covered by medical or renters insurance, so Sheila has to fork more than $1,100 to buy a new one.

Carpenter works as a social worker and college professor and somehow finds the time to run a food pantry.

"I have epilepsy, so this is my main form of transportation, so it really is a pain in the neck," Carpenter said. "I hope you need it more than me because you're not nice."

The blue and white scooter only goes 18 miles per hour and reads "X-treme E-bike" on the side.

If you have information that can help police on this one call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-tips.

There's a $5,000 reward being offered.