NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Though damaged, Jim Bennett is thrilled to once again sit on his Worksman PAV-3 electric trike after it had been stolen near his home in the Freemason Harbor district a week ago.
The 82-year-old Vietnam veteran has a neurological condition that has weakened his lower body and makes the trike critical to his well-being.
“They flipped the handlebars, ’cause everything here was reversed,” Bennett said. “They broke the headlight — headlights broken. They severed the cable for this assembly here, which is the … gear change cable and the left-rear fender damage. And it has a bad flat left-rear tire. So I’ve got to change out the tire or the fender, the gear, change the assembly and replace the headlight.”
News of the recovery came early Friday morning in a phone call from a Norfolk Police detective. Police said that after getting an anonymous tip on the trike’s whereabouts, it was found and police returned it to Bennett. Police said that, at this time, no arrests have been made.
“He said that they got an anonymous call, that someone had the bike and wanted to return it,” Bennett said. “And they said that he was sure because the way they publicized it on TV, they just felt like there’s no way they could use it without being seen. And it’s a very unique bike, probably one or two, maybe only in the whole city like this. So it seems as if whoever it was maybe had a guilty conscience.”
Bennett believes the damages can be fixed. He paid $3,100 for the trike and estimates the repairs will cost $500.
“I’m just looking forward to being able to get out on it,” Bennett said. “I’ve got a dog, a large dog that I need to take out for a walk, and he can accompany me with it. So that’s, you know, two things — one, it gives me a little bit of mobility because I have difficulty walking, falling, and breaking my hip one time, but I’m most happy and really pleased with WAVY 10 for taking the time and effort to publicize this.”