James’ 4-year-old son's wheelchair and helmet were locked in the trunk of the car when it was stolen. The wheelchair, valued at over $4,000, was specially made for her son, Dieghton.

Deighton cannot walk or talk because he has cerebral palsy and occasionally suffers from seizures. His helmet was specifically designed for him to protect against injuries from violent head movements. He attends a pre school at Larchmont Elementary in Tacoma, but without his wheelchair, he can't attend class.

“He is a special needs student and needs the wheelchair in order to ride the school bus,” Tacoma Schools spokeswoman Pamela Thompson said.

“He knows that he's supposed to be at school, and he knows he's not where he needs to be,” James said.