Mum of disabled 7yo boy accuses Met police of ableism after closing stolen wheelchair case in 2 hours
The Met says it is now reviewing the case after The Source uncovered that available CCTV had not been "formally requested" from a security company before the case was closed.
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The Source Exclusive: Mum of disabled 7yo boy accuses Met police of ableism after closing stolen wheelchair case in 2 hours
Tamica Campbell says she feels her son Teon, 7, isn’t a priority for the Met police
STORY BY MELISSA SIGODO
FEBRUARY 27, 2026
A devastated mum whose disabled son’s wheelchair was taken in an alleged burglary has accused police of ableism after closing her case within two hours.
Tamica Campbell from south east London, says her son Teon had his powered wheelchair “stolen” from their gated parking bay after leaving it for “convenience” when they went to visit her mum overnight.
The seven-year-old who is non-verbal was diagnosed with a movement and coordination condition, four-limb cerebral palsy which has left him unable to walk.
But after reporting the incident which saw his vital mobility aid taken on Saturday February 21, at 3.55pm, in emails seen by The Source, Tamica was informed two hours later at 6.04pm that the investigation was closed.
The mum says that in between that time, police had requested her to ask her building’s security company for CCTV footage which left her feeling as though she was ‘investigating the case herself.’
But the mum says she agreed and contacted a security staff member who told her they would only speak to police directly and that recordings could be accessed two days later on Monday.
Initially, when The Source approached the Met police, a spokesperson said that after carrying out enquiries into a burglary and “attempting to retrieve CCTV footage”, due to “insufficient evidence” the investigation was filed.
However, after contacting Living by Lendlease, the company which manages the security services at Tamica’s property, The Source understands that the Met police closed the case before making a formal request for the footage.
Now, following The Source’s investigation into the handling of the alleged burglary, the Met police says it is now ‘reviewing the case to ensure that all procedures were followed correctly regarding obtaining the CCTV.’
Speaking exclusively to The Source, Tamica who has desperately been searching for the wheelchair says she is “disappointed” the case was closed after two hours without CCTV and that she feels her disabled seven-year-old son “isn’t a priority.”
Tamica said: “I’m confused. I’m disappointed. It’s going to be seven days since the incident and police haven’t approached the main people. It’s out of order.
“It happened on Friday night. I just feel like too much time has passed.”
“I’m starting to feel like my son is being discriminated against because it’s a wheelchair and they don’t see it as a priority.
“I’m literally carrying my son around. It’s not ideal but I do it because he’s my baby.
“Even on a weekend, we just have to stay in because it’s not fun for him for me to push him. It’s not like an outing for him. Whereas if he’s in his wheelchair, he’s driving where he wants to go. It’s his freedom.”
The heartbroken mum says that Teon also realised his powered wheelchair was gone and although he is also non-verbal, he was able to express his shock in a few words.
The mum said: “As soon as we pulled up, he was thinking, ‘why is mum carrying me?’ He said, ‘Where’s my car? my car is stolen, my car is stolen.’”
Tamica says she left the wheelchair in their gated parking bay in a ‘hidden area.’ But when she returned home from visiting her mother the following day, she realised the base which is the powered element of the of £10,000 custom scooter had been taken.
Now, the mum says that all her son is left with is the manual push chair part which still leaves him deprived of his independence.
Tamica said: “It was in the corner of the parking bay and then when I was pulling in, it just wasn’t there.
“The top part of the wheelchair is detachable, and I had put in the car.
“I kind of looked around a bit more, around where the bins are and I didn’t see it. When I went to security they said they don’t have the authority to review the footage.
“I just didn’t think that this would ever happen. I expect more from people.”
Despite the case being closed, Tamica who was told of suspected sightings of the wheelchair says she continued to email the Met Police to inform them.
In emails seen by The Source, a Met police staff member told Tamica to ask the security company if the incident had been captured on camera adding that they “do not trawl through CCTV over 15 minutes.”
Now, The Source has uncovered that the Met police did not formally contact the security company for the footage, she says that this is another blow to Teon who has been let down “so many times.”
Tamica said: “I told police that the security company said that they cannot give it to me and that the police need to request it directly from them.
“There’s been so many times where it’s just been a let down. It’s triggered my PTSD because I’ve been robbed before.
“Teon got diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was four years old. He had a cardiac arrest at three months old.
“When he got the wheelchair, it took eight months from the time that he got measured and stuff. They even had to adjust it when he got it.
“And now someone has taken this thing that he really needs.”
Since the wheelchair disappeared, Tamica took to social media and created a TikTok video asking for anyone with information to come forward as well as launching a GoFundMe which has now raised £7,640 to help towards replacing the mobility aid.
Now, the mum says she hopes the police investigation will be reopened.
A spokesperson for Living by Lendlease said: “We’re very sorry to hear about the theft of the wheelchair and completely understand how distressing and disruptive that must be.
“We want to help in every way we can, but for data protection reasons we can only release CCTV footage directly to the police.
“As soon as we receive a formal request from them, we will of course provide the footage and support their investigation.”
A Met police spokesperson said: “The local team will review the incident to confirm that all procedures were followed correctly regarding obtaining CCTV.
“They will also contact the victim to clearly set out the decision‑making and ensure they are fully updated.”
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