Small-time St. Paul Theft Is Big Deal to Victim

A forty seven year old St. Paul man is lamenting the theft of his bike. This isn’t a normal bike, it is an adult tricycle that developmentally disabled Ruag MacKay used every day for transportation and a sense of structure.

According to this article from the Star Tribune, MacKay is known for his helpful spirit, mowing lawns, shoveling snow, and greeting neighbors in his North End community with a smile and a wave. Now, however, he has the neighborhood on alert, looking for the wheels that got him around 4 out of 5 days a week.

MacKay lives with his sister who says he spent the majority of his days on the tricycle. He would use it to get to his adult day program and simply for recreation. He had a bell and a flag. The flag was found down the block after the theft but the bike never was.

A neighbor is calling the theft odd because there were other, more mainstream, bikes available in the neighborhood, left leaned against trees or in open garages. Why someone would want to take MacKay’s bike is unknown.

Although the bike is considered a minor theft under the law, it is major in the world of this man. Someone has already offered to replace the bike if it isn’t found.

Depending on the value of the tricycle, the offense is likely a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail. For theft crimes, the charge and potential sentence all depend on the value of the stolen good. This could have been a crime of opportunity or some kind of mean prank.

People make mistakes. Whether yours is as minor as a misdemeanor theft or a felony assault charge, it often isn’t until after the fact that you begin to see the err of your ways.

If you are facing criminal charges and aren’t sure what to expect on your day in court, you are not alone. Call me today to discuss your charges and how I may be able to help.