The mother of a disabled boy has issued an emotional plea to the individuals who stole her van in London this week, as police continue their appeal to identity the thieves.
The vehicle, which took nine months to fully customise, was stolen on Tuesday morning at around 2.17am.
Speaking to GB News, Onessa Cariazo, mother of 13-year-old Elijah, said the van is his "lifeline" and the thieves have "taken his freedom", not just his transportation.
Elijah is terminally ill and was born with a rare muscular condition called myotubular myopathy. Cariazo told GB News her son has a "life limiting condition" and the van is like "moving his intensive care room" to and from his appointments.
Onessa Cariazo has pleaded for the van to be returned to her home in Hackney
Metropolitan Police / GB News
Cariazo explained: "We travel in a safe adapted van for his needs, and it disappeared on Tuesday morning. Elijah is 13 and we've never had any issues like this before, so it's a bit of a real shock to our system."
Host Emily Carver sympathised with Cariazo and said it is "incredible" that someone could steal a vehicle that Elijah needs "so desperately".
When asked for the latest developments in the Metropolitan Police investigation into the theft, Cariazo revealed they are getting "amazing support" from the officers investigating the case, but the case is "still under investigation".
Cariazo told GB News: "They're updating us and taking any leads they can. But all I know is it's not found yet. But they're doing absolutely everything and putting all their resources into it as well."
CCTV footage captured the moment two thieves stole the van in Hackney
Metropolitan Police
Host Patrick Christys asked Cariazo what her "message" would be to the "brazen" thieves who decided to steal the van.
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Cariazo emotionally responded: "Elijah and us as a family, we're not angry. We forgive you for whatever reason you took it. Just remember, you took Elijah's freedom as well.
"It's not the van that you took, but it's our freedom as a family. His freedom as to whatever life he's got. He's got a limited time here, and we just hope that you pull something in your heart to look at this as not a material thing, but look at this as what you could give to Elijah into whatever life, whatever we can squeeze in to whatever limited time we've got.
"He's going to celebrate his 14th birthday, and we hope to have it returned it before then, because we are planning to take him away. We don't know if it's going to be our last time."
Emily praised Cariazo for her "wonderful message" and "hopes the thieves are listening and return the van". Emily added: "In the meantime, the Met Police I'm sure we'll do their best to investigate this."
Onessa Cariazo has said she 'forgives' whoever took the van as she pleaded for its return
GB News
Sergeant Adam Hunter, of the Haggerston Safer Neighbourhood team, said: "The Met takes every theft seriously but this case is of particular concern to us due to the type of vehicle and the time-sensitive nature of the investigation. Officers are based in the area and are well known within the community.
"They are conducting house-to-house enquiries and trawling through hours of CCTV footage to track down the van but time is of the essence so we are appealing to the public for any information they may have."
Police say anyone with any information should call 101 quoting 01/141980/24.
To remain anonymous, they could contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
