'Low-life' thieves prey on disabled man

Jamie Bigham was robbed while using the internet at the Gateway Internet Cafe on Devonport Rd. Photo / Joel Ford

A disabled Tauranga man is shocked that thieves stole shopping and bill money from his wheelchair while he chatted to a friend at a cyber cafe.

Jamie Bigham, who is one of the city's regular buskers, was at The Gateway Cyber Cafe in Devonport Rd about 3.30pm on January 20 when he left his belt-bag, containing $250 to $300, attached to his wheelchair.

The wheelchair was parked about 3m away from him while he sat in a chair at the computer.

Tauranga police have issued photos of people they want to speak to about the theft.

Mr Bigham, 35, suffers from spina bifida and has used a wheelchair to travel longer distances since he was 10 or 11.

He spends a lot of time at the internet cafe and usually wears the belt-bag around his waist.

"I stupidly left my belt-bag in my wheelchair [the day it was stolen], which is unusual for me," he said.

That day Mr Bigham had withdrawn the money and stashed it in his belt-bag along with a few "fairly unimportant cards, like video cards".

"Who steals from a damn wheelchair? It's stupid, ridiculous low-lifes."

Mr Bigham supplements his invalid's benefit with money from busking - "actually doing something, not sitting at home playing PlayStation all day". He said the theft had left him behind in paying his bills.

The cyber cafe has six security cameras, which revealed two people whom police would like to speak to.

A group of four entered the cyber cafe and used one computer, paying for the service before leaving.

A man and woman from the group then returned.

In all his years of busking Mr Bigham said "amazingly enough" he had never been a crime victim.

Constable Steve Campbell described the crime as "the lowest of the low".

"I think we'll have a name by Monday."

If you have any information contact Tauranga police on (07) 577 4300 or call anonymously on 0800 SPEAK UP.

- APN