thedrifter
09-14-07, 07:42 AM
Iraq veteran’s prosthetic arm stolen
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Sep 13, 2007 17:12:44 EDT
FARMINGTON, N.M. — One of Alroy Billiman’s arms is missing, and he’s worried he may never see it again.
The Iraqi war veteran’s myoelectric prosthetic arm, worth $75,000, was in a gym bag taken from his sports utility vehicle last week while he was visiting relatives in Farmington. The bag also contained an attachment clamp and other attachments and a charger.
Billiman, whose real right arm was destroyed in a roadside explosion in Iraq last November, last saw the myoelectric arm Sept. 2. He didn’t notice the bag was missing from his vehicle until Sept. 5.
That’s because he owns three other prosthetic arms: a body-powered arm, the one he uses most; a sports arm; and a swim arm.
Billiman said it’s not as if someone could sell the arm.
It was made especially for him, and there isn’t much of a black market for prosthetic limbs, said police Sgt. Taft Tracy.
Tracy believes someone grabbed the bag, then “once they saw what it was, they got rid of it. They can’t sell it.”
Doctors in San Diego fit Billiman, a member of the Army Reserve 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, with the prosthetic arms after his war injury.
Billiman, who lives in San Diego, now fishes, plays golf, rock climbs, skis, snowboards and rides mountain bikes. He said he uses the missing arm for mountain biking and other activities.
Ellie
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Sep 13, 2007 17:12:44 EDT
FARMINGTON, N.M. — One of Alroy Billiman’s arms is missing, and he’s worried he may never see it again.
The Iraqi war veteran’s myoelectric prosthetic arm, worth $75,000, was in a gym bag taken from his sports utility vehicle last week while he was visiting relatives in Farmington. The bag also contained an attachment clamp and other attachments and a charger.
Billiman, whose real right arm was destroyed in a roadside explosion in Iraq last November, last saw the myoelectric arm Sept. 2. He didn’t notice the bag was missing from his vehicle until Sept. 5.
That’s because he owns three other prosthetic arms: a body-powered arm, the one he uses most; a sports arm; and a swim arm.
Billiman said it’s not as if someone could sell the arm.
It was made especially for him, and there isn’t much of a black market for prosthetic limbs, said police Sgt. Taft Tracy.
Tracy believes someone grabbed the bag, then “once they saw what it was, they got rid of it. They can’t sell it.”
Doctors in San Diego fit Billiman, a member of the Army Reserve 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, with the prosthetic arms after his war injury.
Billiman, who lives in San Diego, now fishes, plays golf, rock climbs, skis, snowboards and rides mountain bikes. He said he uses the missing arm for mountain biking and other activities.
Ellie