Met police reopens investigation into stolen wheelchair of disabled 7yo boy
This comes following The Source's story revealing that CCTV had not been formally requested before the case was closed within two hours of being opened. Mum Tamica accused the force of ableism.
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The Source Exclusive: Met police reopens investigation into stolen wheelchair of disabled 7yo boy
This comes following The Source’s story revealing that CCTV had not been formally requested before the case was closed within two hours of being opened. Mum Tamica Campbell has thanked the public following the outpouring of support for her son Teon.
STORY BY MELISSA SIGODO
FEBRUARY 28, 2026
The Met police has now reopened their investigation into an alleged burglary which saw the wheelchair of a disabled seven-year-old boy taken.
This comes following The Source’s exclusive report on mum Tamica Campbell accusing the force of ableism after opening and closing her son’s case within two hours, as we revealed that they had done so without formally requesting CCTV footage.
The Met police inititally told us they had made “attempts to retrieve CCTV” before concluding their investigation. But after The Source uncovered that they had not “formally requested” the footage, a spokesperson then said the case would be reviewed to ensure that protocol was followed in acquiring any video recordings.
Now, 24 hours since publishing our story, The Source understands that the case has been reopened as the Met police has since obtained CCTV footage which it says it is currently assessing.
Speaking exclusively to The Source, Tamica says a police officer knocked on her door as she was about to leave and asked for the details of her building’s security company.
Following the police visit, the mum questioned why officers hadn’t obtained the CCTV in the first place.
Tamica said: “I was devastated when they closed the case within two hours.
“[Getting CCTV] was the main barrier when I first called them. And that’s the only thing that they were really concerned about.
“I’m still a bit disappointed because I always remained hopeful in the police system.
“Now they’re going to review the CCTV so the only thing I can do is basically to have hope.
“At least something has happened.”
Tamica’s son Teon is non-verbal and was diagnosed with a movement and coordination condition, four-limb cerebral palsy which has left him unable to walk.
The mum says she had placed his mobility aid in a “hidden area” of their gated car park for “convenience”, and after discovering it was gone on Saturday, February 21, she then took to social media asking anyone with information to come forward.
When Tamica informed officers of the incident, she says she was left feeling as though she was ‘investigating the case herself’ when they asked her to make enquiries into the CCTV.
After two hours and without the footage, the Met police then closed the case.
Since then, a GoFundMe launched to replace Teon’s £10,000 custom powered wheelchair has now reached £13,000 surpassing its £6,500 target.
Tamica who has thanked The Source for investigating the handling of the incident says that she was also “shocked” to see the public outpouring of support for her son when she posted a video explaining the events on TikTok.
Recalling the difficult journey to getting Teon’s wheelchair, Tamica said: “When he first got it, Teon was like, ‘Why do I have a car? Why?’ And I said, ‘You’re not able to walk right now. ’ Going into all of that was just heartbreaking.
“It wasn’t easy for me to see my son in a wheelchair. We just got comfortable using it and everything.
“With the GoFundMe, it’s going to make life a bit easier for Teon in terms of getting around while this case gets resolved.”
Tamica says that her surprise at the public’s compassion is due to being used to the many heartless experiences she has had as a mum with a disabled child.
She said: “Even on the road people wouldn’t move out the way from him. I have to be like, ‘oh, sorry. Oh, excuse me. It’s been a lot honestly.
“Sometimes bus driver’s don’t stop. They don’t put the ramp down. There’s just been a lot regarding disability.
“Honestly, I didn’t even feel like a lot of people would have been outraged just like me.”
The mum says that as well as sharing her story with the Source, posting it on the social media platform TikTok helped her son’s case.
Tamica said: “I just want to say a big thank you to the public. I’m so grateful. Because of the sharing and the reposting.
“It was already seven days in, and it could have been a whole other week if I never posted it, and they never shared it.
“So, I’m just so happy that we were all able to come together through the power of social media.”
A spokesperson for The Met said: “The victim was visited by police yesterday evening with an update that enquiries continue and CCTV is being reviewed.”
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