Blatant burglar steals from disabled, working veteran

CHARLESTON, W. Va. (WSAZ) -- A disabled combat veteran, struggling with health issues, yet still trying to work and earn money had his only mode of transportation stolen ahead of the Christmas holiday.

Thomas Nichols works for the Bell Law Firm. His only mode of transportation is his bicycle. He has epilepsy and hasn't gone long enough without a seizure to safely allow him to drive.

Last week, he rode his bike to work, and parked it in the lobby at the law firm on Capitol Street.

Later, he noticed it was gone. He says his memory isn't the best because of his epilepsy so he even went home to make sure he actually rode his bike to work that day. He got home and didn't find his bike. His coworker also told him that she saw it in the lobby that morning.

Nichols was able to look at the firm's security footage and see someone take his bike in the most blatant way.

The thief walked in the lobby, looked at the security camera, and simply walked out with the bike in tow.

Nichols says the man didn't take something he used for recreation, he took something he uses as a lifeline-- to get to work, doctor appointments even the grocery store.

Nichols has chosen not to turn the footage over to the Charleston Police Department because "they have bigger fish to fry." He believes karma will catch up with the culprit.

He says it was karma that helped him and so did the generosity of the Bell Law Firm. The owner, Harry Bell, gave Nichols money to help buy a new bike. Nichols also used a portion of his savings to make the purchase.

The hit to his savings hurts though.

Nichols says right now he is working as much as he is allowed to save enough money to get to Florida so he can live with his mother-- who is now in remission from lung cancer.

He is still waiting to see if he gets approved for disability.

Out of this entire incident he just wants people to remember one thing:

"You know not every veteran out here is a dope head or drunk, and out to get ya," he explained. There are still veterans out here that want to work, that are disabled and can work, to our limitations but we are not all bad people."