Athenree crash victim Alan Taikato is hitchhiking again after his new pride and joy, a donated electric bike, was stolen from outside Tauranga Hospital last Friday.
The ACC beneficiary was gifted the $2000 bike after concerned local Tee Carroll publicised how much his life had changed since his previous bicycle was stolen from his shed.
But barely a month later Mr Taikato, who carries injuries from a car crash, has been reduced to thumbing lifts after a thief spotted the unlocked bike outside the hospital's main entrance.
Mr Taikato had just completed his first big power-assisted ride and had popped in for a quick chat to his cousin in hospital before doing other things in Tauranga.
"I was not there for any longer than five minutes but I came out to find the bike had gone. I know I should have locked the bike, but it was at the main entrance, by the outpatients. I thought it would have been safe there."
He was feeling shattered at the loss. "I feel really bad, I should have locked it."
Mr Taikato was so overwhelmed at seeing the bike had gone that he felt the energy drain from his body. "I was totally buggered."
Now he is back to the situation he was in before getting his new electric bike from Steve Harries, the owner of online seller Escape Bikes - hitchhiking to Waihi to pay his bills and do his weekly shopping.
Mr Taikato is a very distinctive hitchhiker after one side of his body was badly injured in a car crash more than 10 years ago.
It left him a slow talker and an awkward walker, with a twisted right arm and leg. He hoped what happened to him last Friday would prick the thief's conscience.
Mrs Carroll said she was absolutely gutted by the actions of the "low life" thief. It was a special needs bike that had been specially modified by an engineer to suit Mr Taikato's disability.
She said the engineer, Keith Howie, had gone to a lot of trouble to get the electric bike sorted, but sadly there would be no insurance payout because it had not been locked.
"It was extra valuable with all the bells and whistles."
Mr Harries said he gifted the bike so that Mr Taikato could get out and about again, after the theft of the push bike a few months earlier.
"I was so happy that he was enjoying the bike so much."
He said he would be happy to look at doing something again for Mr Taikato if someone was prepared to rally around and put some money in, but he could not do a full donation again.
Mr Harries has offered to pick up the bike anonymously, no questions asked, if someone rang him on 0800-513-410.
The Escape 26 Hard Tail electric bike
Retail value: $2000
Top speed: 25km/h
Range: 50km to 60km