A disabled Dundee man is “hugely relieved” to have had his electric wheelchair returned after thieves took it on a mile-and-a-half joyride.
Jim McKaig feared he would be “stripped of his independence” after thieves stole the wheelchair from outside his West End home.
Police began a hunt for those behind the crime, with Mr McKaig believing the criminals must have driven off the valuable piece of equipment.
After a 36-hour search, officers recovered the wheelchair, which “seems to be in good condition”, from bushes in the Hilltown on Wednesday.
Mr McKaig has said he is delighted to have got the wheelchair back.
“I’m hugely relieved,” he said.
“The police told me someone noticed someone dumping a wheelchair in the bushes.
“They must have heard about mine being stolen so contacted the police. I’m so grateful to everyone who shared the information, otherwise I may never have got it back.”
Despite being driven 1.4 miles from Mr McKaig’s home on Peddie Street, the chair appears to be undamaged.
Mr McKaig, who had only owned the chair for six months when it vanished on Monday, said: “It seems to be in good condition. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet I’ve got to wait for the police to check it for fingerprints.
“NHS Tayside also said they would send an engineer round just to make sure that everything is working well and make any necessary repairs.”