Suburban Teen's Bionic Arm Stolen From Parked Car

“If we can get it back, no questions asked. I’m not going to prosecute anybody, I just want my kid to have his arm”

A 16-year-old west suburban boy’s bionic arm was stolen from his family’s convertible while he was at a class on Chicago’s Southwest Side, and his family is offering a reward for its return.

“If we can get it back, no questions asked. I’m not going to prosecute anybody, I just want my kid to have his arm,” Derrick Luther, 46, of said of his teenage son’s stolen prosthetic arm.

The North Aurora resident’s son, Samuel, and his mother came to Chicago on Oct. 18 for the teen’s modeling class at K Models Talent in the 1900 block of South Halsted in Pilsen, Luther said.

They parked their blue 2010 Chrysler Sebring convertible in a lot across the street from the school about noon to 2 p.m. Samuel left the arm in the car because its battery was dead, his father said.

When he and his mother returned to the car, they didn’t immediately realize the arm was missing. It wasn’t until days later and the arm didn’t turn up that they realized it must have been stolen from the car, Luther said.

“Somebody must have jingled the doors, saw the arm lying in there and snagged it,” he said.

Samuel was born without his left arm, and had previously used prosthetics. About a year ago, he started using a BeBionic arm, which costs about $95,000.

The family’s insurance helped cover the price of the original arm, but Luther is unsure how much it will cost to replace it.

According to its website, the BeBionic 3 is “designed to be stronger and more durable than other hands available, meaning it can be worn daily, and withstand the stresses and strains of constant use.”

Derrick posted ads online, including on Craigslist, and has posted flyers throughout the Pilsen neighborhood. He also called pawn shops in the area, and spoke to people on the street, but no sign of the arm has turned up.

The family is offering an undisclosed reward for information leading to the return of the arm.

Anyone with information should call Chicago Police or (630) 907-1790.

Copyright CHIST - SunTimes
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