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86-year-old vet's tricycle is stolen
By CHRIS TISCH
© St. Petersburg Times, LARGO -- For the last three years, the trusty blue tricycle served as 86-year-old Rex Grant's connection to the world. The evidence is in several "I voted" stickers Grant has stuck to the frame. The World War II veteran pedaled the Miami Sun three-wheeler, with a silver basket in the back and a brown seat, to the store a few blocks away. And on Election Days, he ventured about a mile to a church where he votes. That's why the old man's heart sank when he discovered Thursday that it was gone. The chain that fastened it to a water pipe outside his home lay on the ground. The lock had been cut, and the trike had been spirited away. "My God, there it was -- gone," Grant said Monday. "And my chain was left there where they had cut it." Largo police are searching for the trike. Grant bought it new about three years ago, shelling out more than $400. Even if they never find it, Grant will have another tricycle, thanks to the generosity of Largo police and John Barr, a director of the state Seniors Versus Crime project. Barr, who helps raise awareness of crimes against seniors, heard of the theft from a coordinator of the Largo police crime watch programs. Barr happened to have a blue tricycle of his own at home, which he had planned to give to charity. He saw an opportunity. He took out the tricycle, cleaned it off and gave it a test drive to make sure it ran smoothly. Then he provided the tricycle to Largo police, who delivered it Monday to Grant. "I thought, what better use for it," said Barr, a 68-year-old former New York trooper, police officer and fire officer. "I wasn't looking for any publicity whatsoever. I hope his regular one is returned." Grant, whose wife and three children have died, is appreciative. "This type of attention makes you feel good," said Grant, who has lived in Pinellas County most of his life. He retired 30 years ago after working in refrigeration and air conditioning maintenance. Grant once had a car but realized several years ago that he was paying a lot of money to have it sit outside his home. He took it only to the store, and insurance alone was costing him $600 per year. "I spent about $1 a mile for it just sitting there," he said. "So I got rid of it." Then came the trike. Though Grant traveled thousands of miles over the Pacific Ocean while serving his country in World War II, he says the trike was all he needed now. "It was something not only for recreation, but it was practical, too," he said. "I go to the Wal-Mart, the Kmart. I enjoyed riding it. I went shopping and everything." If there is anything unique that may get Grant's trike identified, it could be the "I voted" stickers on the frame. Grant said he can't remember the last time he missed any election: local, state or national. "I've never missed an election, not in a good many years. I'm an old Navy man, and I've always believed in my government. And I still believe in the government," he said. "And I still vote. That's a privilege. Maybe his love of voting will pay off with his trike being found or returned. "When I go voting, these stickers they give out, when I came out, I had nowhere to put them," said Grant, who decided to place the stickers on his trike. "I was proud to show I had voted."
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
